VIVAnews - Environment activists claimed that Investigation Suspension Warrant on illegal logging case in Riau indicates a setback for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in upholding environmental law. The presidential instruction to eradicate illegal logging is deemed to have failed.
The statement was uttered by an environment activist, Director of Tropika of Riau, Harijal Jalil to reporters on Wednesday, Dec 24, in Pekanbaru. According to him, to wipe off illegal logging, President Yudhoyono had issued Presidential Instruction No.4/2005.
Through the presidential instruction, the Indonesian Police and other governmental institutions started to fight against illegal loggers. "Based on the Presidential Instruction, the Indonesian Police managed to confiscate millions of meters of illegal timber by early 2007 in Riau," he said. "Today, as General Sutanto resigned from being Chief of Indonesian Police, the police has instead claimed that they did not have enough evidence. That is funny."
According to Jalil, the investigation suspension has torn people's hearts. "The government does not seem to learn from yearly natural disasters. It is as if they didn't feel guilty saying that the 13 companies are proved not to be damaging the environment," said Jalil.
Therefore, Jalil concluded that Yudhoyono was not serious in eradicating illegal logging. "It's only a slogan. In fact, suspects of illegal logging cannot be brought before the court," he said.
Jalil was convinced that high level political conspiracy is behind the case. "It is impossible that the Chief of Riau Police Department and the Riau High District Attorney agreed to suspend the case if their top leaders did not say yes. Therefore, it's a high-level game," said Jalil.
The illegal logging case in Riau has been investigated since February 2006. At that time, Chief of Indonesian Police General Sutanto deployed a team from the Indonesian Police HQs to unwrap the case under the supervision of Head of Indonesian Police Crime and Investigation Division Commissioner General Bambang Hendarso Danuri. Then, the operation was handled by Riau Police Department under its chief Brigadier General Sutjiptadi.
Investigators have collected several evidence. However, the attorney's office always rejected the case. Until Chief Sutanto retired and Sutjiptadi was discharged, the attorney's office kept rejecting the case.
Policy direction over illegal logging case in Riau shifted as Bambang Hendarso was assigned Chief of Indonesian Police and Brigadier General Hadiatmoko was appointed Chief of Riau Police Department.
Hadiatmoko issued the Investigation Suspension Warrant against the case. He stated that he was responsible over his policy and that he is in fact prepared to walk out of his office.
Coverage by: Hafiz Hasian | Riau
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
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