The MINISTRY of Environment and Forestry (LHK) released the initials of 23 Corporations exposed to administrative sanctions as the implications of forest and land fires (karhutla) this year. The administrative sanctions were dominated by 16 companies’ license freeze sanctions, then for government coercion in 4 companies, revocation of environmental permits in 2 companies, and 1 revocation of forest concessions.

This has gone through a cross-sectional phase and we have clarified the hundreds of cases this year, said LHK Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in a press conference held at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Security, Jakarta. It does not rule out the possibility, he said, parallel sanctions were imposed on the corporation, both criminal and civil lawsuits.

For each burning area, for example, it will be asked to be returned to the country for restoration. That is in accordance with the President’s direction, added Siti.

The Republic of Indonesia Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti on the same occasion stated that there were 301 cases handled by the National Police, both in individuals and corporations. For foreign corporations, there are three cases being handled by the National Police. In Central Kalimantan there is one foreign company from China, the initials are PT ASP, said Badrodin.

Meanwhile, activist of the Forestry Independent Supervisory Network (JPIK) Nike Arya at a press conference entitled SVLK Violations and Counterfeit Committees for the Protection of Natural Forests, Peatlands and Land Conflict Resolution, in Jakarta yesterday confirmed that Indonesia still needs a Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK). This was intended as an effort to make Indonesia free from stigma from foreign parties that Indonesian timber sources were produced illegally.

The SVLK does not only require wood and processed wood industry players to ensure the authenticity of their timber, but also ensure the sustainability of forest management from their concession area. From 2011, we have submitted 60 complaints against certification companies, 30 of which are complaints that there are still social conflicts in the concession area, he explained.

Similar expressions were expressed by Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) Campaigner Mufti Fathul Barri. There are SVLKs that are still cheating, what if they don’t exist? For this reason, the Mufti requested that the government also make transparency of data and information on concession maps and the Annual Work Plan of each corporation so that the community can participate in the supervision of forestry practices.

http://pmlseaepaper.pressmart.com/mediaindonesia/PUBLICATIONS/MI/MI/2015/12/23/ArticleHtmls/23-Corporate-Kena-Sanksi-K ministry-LHK-23122015011029.shtml?Mode=1#