Arifin A/Lyndal Meehan, Jakarta – NGOs and students in the province of Jambi, Sumatra, have called on the Minister of Forestry and Plantations, Nurmahmudi Ismail, to immediately close PT Inhutani V due to the extensive environmental damage caused by the state-owned enterprise and that the local Forestry Ministry official be sacked for corruption.
The activists met with Ismail in Jambi on the third and final day of his visit to the area on Sunday. Two spokesmen for the delegation Cecep and Sigit Ekoyuwono related to the media their determination to see the closure of PT Inhutani V. They claimed the environmental conditions at their sites were worsening while the company made little real contribution to the community.
The also related their determination to oust the head of the forestry authority in the area, Sujatno, an ethnic Javanese, because he showed no ability to protect forests. Quite the opposite, he was widely believed to be party to corrupt practices in the operation of PT Inhutani V. They also claimed he was involved with a number of other timber companies clearing forests illegally in collusion with the company.
"The report prepared by the Jambi Ministry of Forestry head [Sujatno] which stated that 56% of forests in Jambi remained is absolutely incorrect, in fact the destruction of forests in Jambi is serious with only around 15% left," Cecep said.
The students and NGO reps also wished to see the division of funds for reforestation reallocated so that the funds be taken over by the provincial government with the central government receiving only 15% of the funds.
"The Ministry of Forestry and Plantations does not need to stand fast and protect the money from the reforestation funds, the matter should be handed over to the provinces and the centre should wait for the allocation of monies from the provincial government," Cecep continued.
The meeting between the Minister and environmental activists did not proceed smoothly. The Minister had only put aside half an hour, 11-11,30am, to meet them while he was scheduled to return to Jakarta on a flight departing at 11.30am. The news prompted activists from several groups, particularly the Conservation Information Forum (Warsi) and the Jambi Forest Protectors Forum (PPHJ), to walk out of the meeting before it began.
The meeting room was then filled to capacity by demonstrators originally amassed outside the building. In his discussion with them, Nurmahmudi Ismail, acknowledged that the destruction of Indonesian forests was serious and that whatever information was received by his Ministry would be considered and included in their evaluation of current conditions.
"The Ministry of Forestry and Plantations is experiencing a difficult time and needs to reevaluate solutions to end the problems," Ismail told the angry protesters. The Minister also acknowledged that the degradation of forests had reached 28 million hectares.