Activists call for environment fund<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Environmental activists proposed the
\nestablishment of a transparent and accountable environment fund
\nat a discussion yesterday.<\/p>\n
They proposed that a regular environment \"contribution\" be
\ncollected from private companies exploiting natural resources,
\nand that the money be clearly earmarked for environmental
\nconservation.<\/p>\n
\"I'm all for the idea of an environmental fund,\" said Dewi
\nMotik, the deputy chairman for environmental affairs at the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).<\/p>\n
She was speaking at the discussion organized by the leading
\nenvironmental non-governmental organization Indonesian Forum for
\nEnvironment (Walhi).<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of our own long-term profit, we should be
\nconserving our environment. Even Kadin agrees that natural
\nresources-based business must be obliged to pay a high
\nenvironment contribution,\" Dewi said.<\/p>\n
A professor of forestry at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture,
\nDudung Darusman, said that a \"progressive taxation\" should be
\nenforced on logging companies as compensation for the depletion
\nof the country's biodoversity and natural resources.<\/p>\n
Walhi executive director Emmy Hafild proposed that the
\ncontribution be based on the \"polluters pay\" principle because
\nthe environmental degradation caused by many companies had
\naffected many people.<\/p>\n
Citing a recent study, Emmy said that air pollution was the
\nsecond most common cause of infant mortality in Jakarta after
\ndiarrhea. She claimed that on a national level it accounted for
\nup to six percent of all infant deaths.<\/p>\n
Emmy conceded that yesterday's calls for a transparent and
\npublicly accountable environmental fund were triggered by the
\n\"abuse\" of the current reforestation fund.<\/p>\n
The reforestation fund is collected by the government from
\ntimber companies and is meant to be used for the regeneration and
\nconservation of forests. It was enacted under a presidential
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
However the fund has been \"borrowed\" for purposes other than
\nreforestation.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Emmy's allegation, a spokesman for the Ministry
\nof Finance's taxation directorate-general, Djonifar, said that
\neither the Supreme Audit Body, the development finance
\ncomptroller, or the House of Representatives should address these
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The discussion participants agreed with legislator Laksmiari
\nPriyonggo of the Indonesian Democratic Party who said that the
\nform of the proposed environment contribution should not be a
\ntax.<\/p>\n
And Djonifar agreed, saying that the nature of taxes was that
\nthey were not necessarily used for the cause they were intended
\nfor. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-call-for-environment-fund-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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