Illegal Logging Still Taking Place in Nunukan

Illegal Logging Still Taking Place in Nunukan

Illegal logging is still taking place in the waters of Nunukan, East Kalimantan. “It’s happening almost every day,” Nunukan Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) deputy speaker Abdul Wahab told TEMPO on Wednesday (21/09). According to Wahab, wood from the forests in Nunukan regency has been smuggled to Tawau island in Malaysia via the waters of Nunukan. “The wood is taken at around 8pm Eastern Indonesian Time and usually arrives at 6am in the morning at Tawau island,” stated Wahab. The wood is taken from forests in Semanggaris and Sebakis as well as from the protected forest on Nunukan island. According to Wahab, the ships, which carry 50 to 200 cubic meters of smuggled wood, need between 5 and 7 drums of fuel with each drum containing 200 liters. Separately, 0911 Military District Command chief Lt. Col. Infantry Taufik Budilukito was unable to confirm the intensity of illegal logging in Nunukan waters. “It could be happening once a week, or once every two weeks,” stated Budilukito. Based on his observations, the smugglers depart at 6pm Eastern Indonesian Time and arrive at the borders of Indonesia and Malaysia between midnight and 1am Eastern Indonesian Time. “Some of them work at night in the waters around the Ambalat block,” said Budilukito. The wood is taken from Sebatik island to Tawau. According to Budilukito, two problems occur in dealing with illegal logging cases. These are the huge size of the area and the limited number of security personnel. To secure the Nunukan regency, the 0911 military command, consisting of 70 personnel, is assisted by 409 personnel under the joint operational command joining of the 613 battalion. (Fanny Febiana-Tempo News Room)