Nature Alert: KPK urged to eradicate forestry mafia, corruption cases

Friday, 5 February 2010

KPK urged to eradicate forestry mafia, corruption cases

Friday, February 5, 2010 13:52 WIB |

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A coalition consisting of well known NGOs in Indonesia has urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate forestry mafia and corruption cases in the sector, a source said.

The coalition includes the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), Working Network of Riau Forest Rescuers (JIKALAHARI), Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam), Save Our Borneo (SOB), Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Sawit Watch, Kontak Rakyat Borneo and SILVAGAMA.

"KPK must make corruption cases in the forestry sector one of its priorities to investigate and solve," M Teguh Surya from the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi)said here on Friday.

He said there were nine big cases in the sector which had caused the country a total loss of Rp 6.66 trillion.

The coalition, he added, also wants the KPK to form a special task force to investigate forest destruction cases in Indonesia.

"Illegal logging activities are controlled by top mafia and transnational crime syndicates . The worst damage to forests is done by illegal conversion of forest land and behind this activity are bad investors and top officials," Teguh said adding that illegal forest conversion was done by transforming forests into plantation and mining areas.

Under Central Kalimantan province`s revised Spatial Layout Plan (RTRWP) for 2009, 7.8 million hectares of forests have been turned into palm oil plantations and mining areas.

According to the forestry ministry`s Forestry Consolidation Bureau, 5.8 million hectares of forest in Papua have been damaged over the past six years. In fact, it was estimated that Papua would lose its entire forest area by 2020. (*)

http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1265352745/kpk-urged-to-eradicate-forestry-mafia-corruption-cases

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.