Indonesian anti-corruption commission urged to eradicate forestry mafia, corruption cases

Antara 5 Feb 10;

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. (*)