Indonesian Military "Deeply Involved" In Massive Illegal Logging Efforts - AFP

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The Indonesian military is deeply involved in the trade in illegally felled timber that is destroying vast tracts of pristine forest near the Malaysian border, researchers said Friday. Their findings come days after the government revealed plans to ask foreign governments to contribute to a billion-dollar "green investment fund" to help it cut greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable infrastructure projects.

Environmentalists argue that the government could go a long way towards meeting its target of cutting emissions by 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 simply by stopping unchecked illegal logging. But the new study by the Center for East Asia Cooperation Studies (CEACoS) at the University of Indonesia has revealed how difficult this could be, given the military's involvement in the illicit trade.

CEACoS executive director Tirta N. Mursitama, the head researcher in the project, said the military acted as a coordinator, investor, facilitator and middleman for the illegal loggers. "Military personnel from low ranked soldiers to territorial commanders were involved in the practice of illegal logging in the border areas," he told AFP. "The military personnel acted as coordinators, investors and people who deliberately failed to monitor the flow of logging transport."

The study covered the period between 1999 and 2006 in East Kalimantan, on the Indonesian side of Borneo where forests are being stripped for timber and palm oil plantations faster than anywhere else in the world.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Indonesian_military_behind_illegal_logging_study_999.html