Indonesia's military-backed forestry task force has threatened legal action against dozens of plantation and mining companies refusing to pay hefty fines for operations in forest areas that authorities deem illegal.
"For companies that still object, those that fail to appear for summons or continue unauthorised activities in forest areas, the task force will take more progressive legal action to ensure the state's sovereignty," spokesperson Barita Simanjuntak said.
The task force has taken over 8,800 hectares (21,800 acres) of mining areas turning out items such as nickel, coal, quartz sand and limestone, and palm planations across 4.1 million hectares (10.1 million acres), or roughly the size of the Netherlands, it said in Wednesday's statement.
As many as 25 of the 32 mine companies and 29 of the 83 plantation firms summoned to pay fines have objected, failed to attend or sought rescheduling, it said, without identifying the companies.
Seven mining and 54 palm oil companies have paid or agreed to pay fines of 9.3 trillion rupiah ($552 million), the task force added.
($1=16,855.0000 rupiah)
