Jakarta – Papuan tribal leaders and students from Greater Jakarta urged the government on Tuesday to revoke forest concessions given to dozens of companies that have failed to preserve the environment. They argued that a lack of government control has caused illegal logging and forest fires to increase in the country's easternmost province.

They voiced their demands during a peaceful rally at the lobby of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday. The protesters specifically demanded that Forestry Minister M. Prakosa investigate logging activities by 12 subsidiaries of Djajanti Group and PT Artika Optima Inti in Nabire.They also demanded that the provincial and regent administrations be given more authority to manage forestry activities in the province to ensure that local people benefited from their forests.

Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have alleged, however, that illegal logging has increased in the province since the province was granted the status of special autonomy in 2001, as local administrations have hurried to raise revenue.