National Police chief vows to crack down on illegal logging

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 07/02/2006 4:32 PM

National Police chief Gen. Sutanto bestowed long service awards on two police officers from Ulee Kareng police precinct in Banda Aceh in observance of the National Police's 60th anniversary Saturday (see photo.

Sutanto also used the event to renew the police's commitment to stopping illegal logging in Indonesia.

""I've instructed the police across the country to take action against the illegal loggers who have destroyed the nature's ecosystem, with no exceptions, as this is one of our 2006 targets,"" he was quoted by Antara as saying. ""Their greediness has caused floods everywhere, that's why we have to take stern action.""

He said the move would include arresting the illegal timber bosses who have so far avoided the law. ""We will work to get them,"" Sutanto said.

Forest conversion practices, along with illegal logging, are blamed for Indonesia's high deforestation rate, which reached 3.5 million hectares a year in 2005.

Sutanto also said the Aceh police had to work harder than police in other parts of the country. One police officer represent 600 residents in Aceh, while in other provinces one officer represents 300 people.

Under the peace deal signed by the government and Free Aceh Movement leader in Helsinki, Finland, in August last year, there can be no more than 9,100 police officer in Aceh at any time.

During the Saturday ceremony -- the first such event to be held outside Jakarta, and which took place in the modest atmosphere of the police precinct instead of Aceh Police headquarters -- Sutanto also observed the destruction of 25,000 marijuana plants and more than 3,500 bottles of alcohol. -- JP

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