Government responded the petition on Act of Deforestation Prevention and Eradication (UU P3H) and Act of Forestry as filed by several farmers and environmental organization. The respond was delivered by Mualimin Abdi as the acting Dir. Gen. Law and Regulation Ministry of law and Human Rights and Soni Partono as Dir. Gen. Forest Conservation in the hearing held on Tuesday (11/4) at MK Plenary room. Government addressed that Customary Societies who utilize forest will not be charged for crime.    

Mualimin said philosophical basis of both regulations align with Article 33 verse (3) 1945 Constitution which obliges natural resources is state’s possession and must be managed for the interest of the people. Forestry management conveys fair and sustainable spirit.

However, state authorizes government to manage forest, area, and its products, stipulates legal interrelation, and determines legal Act.

Mualimin said that Indonesia owns one of the biggest tropical forest, in which the globe relies its sustainability, especially when it comes to shading climate change. Thus, its management must be planned really well by regarding environment sustainability and balance to prompt fruitful-yet future-oriented- result for the people.

As attempt to face deforestation, Mualimin said that government has actually taken action although it still ineffective. Assertiveness is required to raze organized deforestation.

“UU P3H weighs deforestation eradication which strived by organized structure […] excluding customary inhabitants who perform traditional farming and logging outside conservation area and without commercial motive,” Mualimin said.  

Meanwhile, Sonny Partono said that the petition is not legally reasonable. It was determined that appointed forest areas still possess the status. Thus, any crime performed within the area must be proceeded, according to the Act.   

To customary inhabitants who utilize the forest, Sonny said that they may do so if they use traditional tools. Exception, has been attached in Article 12 letter f UU P3H.(Yusti Nurul Agustin/mh/kun)