Miri - The difficulty in identifying the demarcation line between Sarawak and Kalimantan in Indonesia makes it hard for authorities to apprehend illegal loggers.
State police chief Deputy Commissioner Mohmad Salleh said the police have had a hard time investigating reports on alleged illegal logging in border areas.
“Both countries are uncertain of the boundary as the region is mountainous and forested and there are no landmarks or signs to separate the two countries,” he said.
DCP Mohmad said the boundary stretched over a huge distance (1,000km from north to south) and there were settlements scattered along the way.
On why it was hard to apprehend illegal loggers, he said a tree might be cut in Sarawak`s jurisdiction, but it might fall in the Indonesian side.
The forested areas were hard to distinguish from land and air, making enforcement work a nightmare, he said.
Asked if this meant that more troops would have to be stationed in border settlements, he said the police play complementary and supplementary roles as far as logging was concerned.
“Our duty is to maintain peace and security. Illegal logging comes under the Forestry Department,
“Police will assist when we have to, especially when security of our people is threatened.
“However, we cannot afford to channel a lot of manpower to tackle illegal logging as we are short of personnel in the cities and towns,” he said.
There has been an increase in reports of illegal logging and theft of heavy machinery belonging to logging companies in the area.
No arrests have been made.
Source: thestar.com.my (21 April 2008)
