Nature Alert: New detective chief denies role in illegal logging

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

New detective chief denies role in illegal logging

The Jakarta Post | Wed, 11/25/2009

Newly appointed National Police detective chief Insp. Gen. Ito Sumardi has denied any link to illegal logging and gambling cases when serving as the police chief in South Sumatra and Riau.

“The reports are not true and have no evidence,” Ito was quoted as saying by Antara on Wednesday when asked to comment on allegations that he had protected illegal logging players and gambling den operators in the past.

Neta S. Pane of the Indonesia Police Watch had criticized the National Police chief’s decision to promote Ito to the key post, citing Ito's questionable integrity.

The police internal supervision and profession affairs questioned Ito last year for allegedly leaving gambling practice unchecked in Riau when he was the police chief there. Following the questioning, Ito was withdrawn to Jakarta as the coordinator of National Police chief’s advisors.

Ito said he had clarified the accusations to National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, who said his subordinate was clean.

Ito suspected he was a victim of pranksters who could not accept his moves to fight crimes when he was the police chief in South Sumatra and Riau.

“I know who spread the accusations, but I don’t want this polemic to drag on,” he said.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/11/25/new-detective-chief-denies-role-illegal-logging.html

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.