Police suspect arson in Greenpeace camp fire

PEKANBARU: Pelalawan Police in Riau province said they found indications of arson in a fire that gutted Greenpeace Indonesia's camp in a peatland forest in Semenanjung Kampar in Teluk Kampar district.

"We questioned witnesses and investigated the scene and found indications of arsons, probably by those who dislike Greenpeace," Pelalawan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Arie Rachman was quoted as saying Sunday by Antara news agency.

The fire razed the camp at dawn on Sunday. Camp caretaker Syamsuddin, who reported the fire to police, said he was not in the vicinity at the time. He said he gone home on Saturday.

The police backed up their claims by pointing to a conflict between Greenpeace and locals several days before. They said locals opposed to Greenpeace's presence assaulted the NGO's supporters.

Greenpeace activists had arrived at the area to support some local residents who were protesting a planned expansion of an industrial forest concession (HTI). They claimed the HTI holder wanted to convert peatland.

"Locals opposed to Greenpeace said Greenpeace hampered them from earning an income," Arie said. "Locals supporting Greenpeace said they wanted to protect the peatland because if the peatland was converted, it would kill their livelihoods as fishermen." - JP