Indonesia: The 13 main forestry companies engaged in illegal logging will no longer be investigated
Riau Police stopped investigations into 13 forestry companies
allegedly responsible for illegally logging 2 million cubic meters of
forest. Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban said his office respected
the police decision to issue a Letter of Order to Stop Investigations
(SP3) into the companies. Kaban said the 13 companies did not violate
the Forestry Law because they secured business permits from the
government.
The ministry’s director general for forest protection and
natural conservation, Darori, also defended the police’s decision to
cease investigations. “From the beginning, there was a
misunderstanding about the cases. By the time police ‘visited’ the
forest sites, the companies were already on their way to replanting it
back to normal,” he said. Riau Police Chief Brig. Gen. Hadiatmoko and
Riau Provincial High Court Chief Suroso announced Monday the issuance
of the SP3 into the 13 companies, who are all affiliated with massive
pulp and paper firms PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) and PT
Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (KIPP). “The decision to issue the SP3 was
not my own choice. That was based on explanations from the
government’s expert witnesses. Basically, I would agree with the
investigation if the logs were taken from illegal activities, but the
experts say there actions were legal,” he said. Despite the SP3,
police will continue their investigations into PT Ruas Utama jaya. “It
is the only company that does not have permit from the government,” he
added. Hadiatmoko also denied accusations that the SP3 was issued
under pressure from the logging firms. “There was no intervention from
the firms. It is clearly the result of law enforcement. I promise once
we get new evidence, we will reopen the case,” he said. “I will be
ready for dismissal if I’m wrong.” Forest watchdog Greenomics
Indonesia said the police needed to publicly explain their reasoning
behind the issuance of the SP3.
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