MINISTER of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni admitted that he was ready to carry out forest protection targets as part of the program launched by President Prabowo Subianto.
In this regard, Raja Juli stated that law enforcement would be a priority because the condition of forests in Indonesia has been subject to illegal looting for decades.
“As is known, for decades our forests have been plundered by illegal plantations without permits. “Therefore, as ordered by Pak Prabowo, we are ready to enforce the law in accordance with existing regulations,” he said at the Attorney General’s Building, Jakarta, Friday (1/10).
To strengthen law enforcement in forest protection, Raja Juli approached the leadership of the Attorney General’s Office. “I came this morning to meet him (JA), Sowan to coordinate on Mr Prabowo Subianto’s orders, that as Minister of Forestry I was asked to protect the forest,” he said.
During the meeting, Raja Juli also discussed the imposition of administrative fines and law enforcement on parties who deliberately destroy forests for pragmatic reasons.
“So I coordinated with him (Attorney General), God willing, there will be good cooperation to carry out this legal process, for the sake of upholding state law, we must not be defeated by illegal actors who have been destroying our forests all this time,” said Raja.
“And we will also impose penalties if we don’t comply, and if we don’t follow the regulations, we are also ready to confiscate state assets,” he continued.
He also emphasized that his party would form a special task force to enforce laws to protect forests in Indonesia.
“I have proposed to the Minister of State Secretary that there be a limited task force to work more nimbly, faster in accordance with the President’s orders. “Later, of course we will ask for it from the prosecutor’s office, then from BPKP which has the data, and of course from internal forestry,” explained Raja Juli.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin explained that his party openly accepted this collaboration as a form of coordination between institutions. It was said that his party had also received various hearings from various ministries to strengthen law enforcement.
“The minister who is here coordinates the implementation of his duties. This is a form of synergy between ministries and agencies. “Of course we have to support each other, so that our goal in terms of improving the welfare of society can be achieved more quickly,” he said. (J-2)
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**Interview with Minister Raja Juli Antoni on Forest Protection Initiatives**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Minister Antoni. Thank you for joining us today. You recently spoke about the urgent need for forest protection in Indonesia. Can you tell us what motivated this initiative now?
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. The motivation stems from decades of illegal activities that have severely damaged our forests. President Prabowo Subianto has made forest protection a priority, and I am fully committed to enforcing the law to preserve our natural resources.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned illegal plantations without permits. How extensive is this issue, and what are the main challenges you foresee in addressing it?
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** The issue is indeed extensive. Many of our forests have been exploited without legal oversight. The main challenge is ensuring effective law enforcement and overcoming the entrenched interests that benefit from these illegal activities. It’s crucial that we work closely with the Attorney General’s Office to tackle these issues head-on.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of collaboration, can you elaborate on your recent meeting with the Attorney General? What were the key points discussed?
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** Certainly. In our meeting, we discussed the need for coordinated efforts in law enforcement specifically regarding administrative fines for those who destroy our forests. We aim to create a robust legal framework that holds offenders accountable while protecting our environment.
**Interviewer:** What specific steps will the Ministry of Forestry take to implement these initiatives?
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** We are focusing on several strategies: increasing surveillance of forestry areas, enhancing collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and raising public awareness about the importance of forest conservation. We believe these steps will significantly contribute to protecting our forests.
**Interviewer:** what message do you want to convey to both the public and those involved in forest-related sectors?
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** I urge everyone to recognize the crucial role of our forests in Indonesia’s ecosystem. Protecting our forests is not just a governmental responsibility—it’s a collective duty. We must all work together to uphold environmental laws and sustainable practices for the benefit of future generations.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Minister Antoni, for sharing your insights and commitment to forest protection.
**Minister Raja Juli Antoni:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss this vital issue.
