Govt urged to name owners of illegal villas in Bogor

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) urges the government to announce owners of illegal establishments in Gunung Halimun Salak National Park, Bogor, West Java, to avoid any possible conversion in ownership.

Jakarta-based Walhi spokesman Erwin Usman said that the change in ownership might happen to evade criminal law.

“The announcement would prove that the government does not take sides in the settlement of the illegal villas,” Erwin said Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The government plans to demolish 168 illegal villas in the national park next month.

Walhi has suspected that officers of the Bogor office of the National Land Agency (BPN)  might have have been involved in corruption and collusion with illegal villas owners.