Jakarta - Coinciding with the 69th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, the Strengthening Integrity and Accountability Program II (SIAP II) Consortium - consisting of WWF-Indonesia, Transparency International Indonesia, and the Indonesia Working Group on Forest Finance - today (17/8) held a public event entitled ""Merdeka Tanpa Korupsi!"" held at Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan.

In this activity, SIAP II invites the public to convey their expectations (in the form of audio visuals) for the President-Elect who will be inaugurated in October 2014, especially related to environmental issues and corruption and forest crimes. This activity also invites the public to recall the spirit of independence from all wrong actions in the state.

According to SIAP II Chief of Party, Fathi Hanif, "Corruption and money laundering in the forestry sector are very detrimental to the country. An investigative report and analysis by Human Rights Watch states that illegal logging and mismanagement of the forestry sector cost the Indonesian government more than US$7 billion (around IDR 70 trillion) between 2007 and 2011." Fathi also added that in addition to financial losses, ecological losses are also huge. Disasters such as floods, droughts and landslides are impacts caused by irresponsible forestry practices.

A 2013 KPK report states that in the past decade state losses due to forestry crimes, particularly illegal logging, have been enormous - allegedly around IDR 30 trillion. On the other hand, law enforcement actions do not seem to have a deterrent impact on perpetrators or potential perpetrators. The enactment of Law No.18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction is a momentum for law enforcement officials, especially the Forestry PPNS, to utilize a set of legal provisions in the Forestry Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Law (TPPU).

SIAP II Anti Forestry Crime Coordinator, Rivan Prahasya, said, "The new government has very heavy homework, especially in eradicating corruption and money laundering in the forestry sector. For this reason, the public must also play an active role in monitoring the government's performance in the forestry sector. This is the message we want to convey through the activities at GBK this morning."

For more information, please contact:
Dyah Ekarini, Communications & Media Coordinator, SIAP II
Email: drini@wwf.or.id, Hp: +62 813 8545 5229