Judge Nababan's Misguided Ruling

Palembang District Court seemed determined to close the year 2015 with an absurd verdict -throwing out the government's lawsuit against Bumi Mekar Hijau company. This log supplier to the Asia Pulp and Paper group was accused of deliberately of torching a 20,000-hectare forest.

The government, as represented by the forestry and environment ministries, sued the company for Rp2.6 trillion in losses plus an additional Rp5.2 trillion for environmental restoration. Actually, if all is taken into careful consideration, including the profound and extensive effects on the environment and human health, the amount is far from adequate. But the panel of judges headed by Parlas Nababan allowed Bumi Mekar Hijau to go scot-free.

January 12, 2016