Auction of Timber Still Sluggish
Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 | 16:05 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The revenue of the auction from the illegal logging operation is still slow. After four months, the government only managed to obtain Rp200 billion out of the Rp2.5 trillion target for this year.

Nevertheless, according to the Forestry Minister, Malam Sambat Kaban, the fund from this auction is included in the state's non-tax revenue. “This is due to the slow trial process,” said Kaban in the Coffee Morning program at his house, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/4).

He explained that currently there are thousands of square cubic feet of seized timber that have not been auctioned. There are also heavy machinery and trucks for carrying the illegal timber. These materials cannot be auctioned before the trial process finishes.

On many occasions, Kaban asked that the auction of materials from the illegal logging operation be held on the scene so that the timber quality does not decrease or is damaged, which can result in a low sale price.

Kaban is of the opinion that actually the exhibits of illegal logs are not only timber or heavy machinery, but also the money from the auction.

Kaban explained that the idea of the on-the-scene auction will probably be included in the illegal logging bill which is now being discussed by the House of Representatives (DPR)

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