ID :
38366
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 22:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/38366
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KABAN DISAPPOINTED BY M`SIAN GOVERNMENT`S STANCE ON ILLEGAL LOGGING
Depok, Indonesia, Dec 31 (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister MS Kaban expressed disappointment over Malaysian officials' attitude on the practice of illegal logging in Indonesia.
"Although they know that wood coming to Malaysia from Indonesia was sent using fake documents, they keep insisting that it is legal," Kaban said after planting a tree at the residence of artist WS Rendra here Wednesday.
Their behavior, he said, did not reflect friendship among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). He said the neighboring country could have helped maintain and save Indonesia's tropical forests.
"They must use legal methods when acquiring wood," he said.
To deal with the problem, the minister said, he had held meetings with his counterparts from other Asean member countries and conveyed Indonesia's seriousness in its fight against illegal logging.
Besides that, he said, the government was also cooperating with European countries and the US to discover sources of illegal logs.
Kaban said in general the number of illegal logging cases in 2008 dropped compared to the year before, but he could not mention figures.
Regarding the issuance of court orders halting the investigation on 13 companies in Riau that had been suspected of having conducting illegal logging, the minister said "we of course have to respect it as the case is under the authority of the judicial branch," he said.
He said if the charge could not be proven after examination and investigation had been carried out the decision had to be respected.
On many court rulings that only gave light punishment to illegal loggers the minister said some indeed got light penalty but others also got severe punishement.
"It depends on the judges as they are the ones that have the full authority on it," he said.
"Although they know that wood coming to Malaysia from Indonesia was sent using fake documents, they keep insisting that it is legal," Kaban said after planting a tree at the residence of artist WS Rendra here Wednesday.
Their behavior, he said, did not reflect friendship among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). He said the neighboring country could have helped maintain and save Indonesia's tropical forests.
"They must use legal methods when acquiring wood," he said.
To deal with the problem, the minister said, he had held meetings with his counterparts from other Asean member countries and conveyed Indonesia's seriousness in its fight against illegal logging.
Besides that, he said, the government was also cooperating with European countries and the US to discover sources of illegal logs.
Kaban said in general the number of illegal logging cases in 2008 dropped compared to the year before, but he could not mention figures.
Regarding the issuance of court orders halting the investigation on 13 companies in Riau that had been suspected of having conducting illegal logging, the minister said "we of course have to respect it as the case is under the authority of the judicial branch," he said.
He said if the charge could not be proven after examination and investigation had been carried out the decision had to be respected.
On many court rulings that only gave light punishment to illegal loggers the minister said some indeed got light penalty but others also got severe punishement.
"It depends on the judges as they are the ones that have the full authority on it," he said.
