Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 04/22/2010 1:28 PM
A number of NGOs grouped under the "Anti-Forestry Mafia Coalition" are scheduled to meet the Judicial Mafia Taskforce at 2 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the plan to eradicate the illegal logging mafia.
"In the meeting with the taskforce, we will question President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's seriousness to tackle the mafia in the forestry sector," Indonesia Corruption Watch deputy coordinator Emerson Yuntho said.
In his speech earlier this month, Yudhoyono vowed to crack down on the illegal-logging mafia.
He also invited NGOs concerned with forestry and environment to work together with the government to save Indonesia's forest.
However, Emerson said, the government had yet to show concrete actions.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Financial Transaction Analysis and Reports Center (PPATK) office in Central Jakarta.
The coalition will submit data about some alleged illegal logging cases to the taskforce, mostly in Sumatra.
"We will urge the taskforce to probe 14 illegal logging cases in Riau which the investigations have been stopped by the police. The Riau cases have allegedly caused Rp 2.8 trillion [US$310.8 million] in state-losses.
"We will also share data we have collected about 15 methods of forestry mafia practice," Emerson said.
The NGOs claimed that the illegal logging practices across the country had caused at least Rp 30 trillion in annual state losses.
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