Environmental Activists Report People Causing Damage to Mountain
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lemongan Mount conservation activist group, Laskar Hijau, reported a case of damage and arson to around 2,000 hectares of conservation forest of Lemongan Mount to Lumajang police on Saturday (29/4).
The damage and arson done by the people inhabiting the slope of the mount were intended to clear the land for sengon trees plantation.
Ilal Hakim, one of laskar Hijau activists, said that the arson to the conservation forest took place in the past week.
"We had to repeatedly put out fires in the conservation forest," Ilal explained in Lumajang police station.
Ilal expressed that he knows the people involved in the damage of the forest, some of which are influential people with.
"We will reveal everything to the police," Ilal claimed.
The people causing damage and arson, Ilal said, were told that they will be granted with legal certificate for the land. The fire destroyed more than 8.000 bamboos planted by Laskar Hijau. He estimated hundreds of millions worth of loss.
A number of evidence was brought to Lumajang criminal division. Ilal even recorded a resident who claimed to get paid to burn the conservation forest.
State-owned forestry Perum Perum Perhutani also filed a report on damage inflicted on their land.
DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA
