Nature Alert: Police back Tempo in logging libel suit

Wednesday, 14 May 2008

Police back Tempo in logging libel suit

Jakarta Post 14th May

Police back Tempo in logging libel suit

A police officer has testified in the libel case brought against Tempo Magazine by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) over its reports on illegal logging.

Adj. Comr. Hersadwi, a police officer from Riau province, was one of two witnesses brought by Tempo's lawyer Hendrayana on Tuesday to prove that the magazine had a basis for mentioning RAPP in its reports on illegal logging published on July 6, 12 and 13 of 2007.

The other witness was an activist from Jakalahari, a local non-governmental organization concerned with environmental issues.

"We are investigating several illegal logging cases, including the one committed by RAPP. From the cases, we have about 30 suspects," Hersadwi said after the close of the day's trial proceedings at the South Jakarta District Court.

The police officer also confirmed he made statements to a Tempo journalist.
Hendrayana said a RAPP employee had been named as a suspect by the Riau Police in the illegal logging case.

RAPP filed a libel suit against Tempo with the South Jakarta District court last August.
In the suit, RAPP lawyers demanded the court order Tempo to pay the company Rp 1 billion (US$108,301) in material losses and Rp 500 million for immaterial losses following Tempo's allegations against the pulp and paper firm.

Hendrayana said Tempo journalists wrote the stories based on facts gathered from several sources, including the Riau Police.

"They did not make up the stories. The information was accurate because the facts were based on a police investigation and Jakalahari's research," he said.

During Tuesday's trial session the representative from Jakalahari also confirmed that Tempo had used data submitted by the NGO in its articles.

Tempo will present an expert witness to testify in the next trial session scheduled for May 27. (trw)

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.