EoF News (PEKANBARU) – Former Siak Distric Head whom is prosecuted in Corruption Crime Court here asked Prosecutors to present more key witnesses including Riau Governor Rusli Zainal and Kampar District Head, reports said.

(The Jakarta Globe, 23 April 2010)-- A coalition of activist groups on Thursday reported 12 public officials to the presidential Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force for suspected involvement in a major illegal logging case in Riau province.

PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Environmental groups in Riau urged law enforcers to probe more Riau corruption cases and bring more suspects to justice.

PEKANBARU (EoF News) -- A witness on the trial of Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar in Jakarta told the judges last week that the defendant received at least Rp 1.5 billion from PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) as a gratification for issuing forestry operation license for the subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL).

Pekanbaru (EoF News)— Ad hoc Committee II of Regional Representative Council (DPD) urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately issue summon letter to several officials who allegedly involved in illegal logging in Riau, Koran Tempo daily (28/9/2007) reported.

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- The Riau Police Office has reportedly submitted a request to the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to summon Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban as the witness over issuance of 17 licenses of Selective Logging Concession in the province, a newspaper said.

Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Pelalawan District administration is accused of supporting rampant encroachment practice in proposed Tesso Nilo National Park as it issued KTP identified cards for encroachers originating from other provinces. The migrants then dwelled in newly-inhabited illegal Toro village. Coordinator of Jikalahari (Riau NGOs network for forest rescue) Zulfahmi said the government should prevent migrants entering defunct HPH selective logging concession granted to PT Nanjak Makmur due to they encroach the proposed Tesso Nilo National Park extension land. “Because they just conduct illegal encroachment,” he said as quoted by Riau Terkini website Tuesday.

Today Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Sumatran environmental NGOs, called on all companies who are clearcutting natural forests based on Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Governors or Heads of Districts to immediately issue a moratorium on all such operations.