"If after the omnibus law enactment, there are people still 'playing around' in (forest) area, strict criminal sanctions will be imposed," the minister said on her tweet on her official Twitter account @SitiNurbayaLHK on Saturday.
Existing companies in forest area will be subject to fines for overdue caused by the past policies, and these fines will become state revenues. The largest possible fine will go to the state treasury and will later be returned to the people, according to her.
"Any past irregularities must be put in order with strict, clear, and fair regulations for all parties. The omnibus law accommodates all of these things!" Nurbaya Bakar said.
Previously, at a joint press conference on the Job Creation Law held at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Wednesday (7/10), she said the Job Creation Law also addressed the disputes regarding Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry, and Law Number 18 of 2013 on Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction (P3H) ), including on the issue of forest use without permit.
The omnibus law also addresses issue on people, both individually or in groups, who have been living in forest area for five consecutive years. They will be subject to administrative sanctions, instead of facing punishment as criminals.
Data shows that more than 20,000 villages exist in and around forest areas, including some 6,700 villages located in conservation forest areas. The people living in those villages will not be criminalized.
The Job Creation Law also addresses a long-standing problems such as palmoil plantations without permits in forest areas.
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Translator: Virna PS, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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