Environment needs own ministry: PPP<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) has
\nrecommended establishing an environment ministry with more budget
\nand better human resources than the current non-portfolio office
\nto deal with increasingly complicated environmental problems.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia needs a new and powerful ministry, say a ministry
\nof environment and regional planning, to handle all environmental
\nissues,\" Nasir Tamara of PPP said in a seminar held by the
\nIndonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) on Monday.<\/p>\n
The ministry would have offices across the country to enforce
\nenvironmental laws, he added. It would be empowered to impose
\nsubstantial fines on polluting companies, with the payments to be
\nused to remedy environmental damage.<\/p>\n
Other speakers in the seminar were Eki Syachrudin
\nof the Golkar Party, Tanzil Salim of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) and leading environmental expert Emil Salim.<\/p>\n
Eki said a new ministry would not solve the problems. He
\nbelieved a campaign to raise public awareness about potentially
\ndamaging projects and the people's participation in decision
\nmaking would be more beneficial.<\/p>\n
\"There should be a mechanism, such as a hearing board, to
\nenable people to air their opinions on large-scale projects such
\nas dams, toll roads or other infrastructure,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Public participation is necessary to guard against \"money-
\nthirsty bureaucrats\" making the decisions unilaterally, he said.<\/p>\n
In his address, Tanzil stressed the importance of good
\ngovernance and public empowerment. He cited the controversial
\nforestry bill, which he believed focused on exploitation rather
\nthan sustainable resources management.<\/p>\n
ICEL executive director Mas Ahmad Santosa concurred. \"The
\ngovernment is neglecting the public's rights in regard to the
\ndeliberation of the bills on natural resources.\"<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives decided on Monday to deliberate
\nthe forestry bill despite earlier demands for its postponement.
\nAmong those making the calls were Emil Salim, former forestry
\nminister Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo and forestry experts from
\nseveral universities.<\/p>\n
Opponents said the bill failed to observe people's traditional
\nrights on forestry and that it was established without involving
\nforestry stakeholders.<\/p>\n
Emil said on Monday that PPP's approach to the environmental
\nissue was anthropocentric, but Golkar adopted a sectoral approach
\nwhich was insufficient given the complexity of the problem.<\/p>\n
\"We need to use a holistic approach,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The environment is public property that can't be valued by
\nmoney,\" Emil said.(05\/gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environment-needs-own-ministry-ppp-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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