Environmental group not impressed by new Basel convention<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new convention on international trade in
\nhazardous waste, ratified in Basel, Switzerland last week has
\nclosed many of the previous loopholes, but the Indonesian Center
\nfor Environmental Law says it is still wary about its
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
"Now that we have the 1994 Basel Convention, we still have a
\nproblem regarding its enforcement and monitoring and the kind of
\nsanctions most effective against violations of the convention,"
\nthe center said in a statement issued on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The center, headed by prominent environmental lawyer Mas
\nAchmad Santosa, lamented that the convention has given three-
\nyear's leeway before enforcing the total ban on trade of
\nhazardous waste by the ratifying members.<\/p>\n
The Basel Convention on Total Ban of Transboundary Movements
\nof Hazardous Wastes and other Disposals was ratified by 64
\ncountries, including Indonesia. Major industrialized countries,
\nincluding the United States, Japan, Canada and Australia, which
\nare among the biggest exporters of industrial waste, reportedly
\nstayed away from the convention.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has imposed strict restrictions on the import of
\nhazardous and toxic industrial wastes since 1992, allowing only
\nthose that were still needed by its industries, such as used
\nbatteries, but even these will ultimately be phased out.<\/p>\n
Despite the 1992 ban, however, illegal imports of used
\nplastics have continued and ports in Jakarta and other major
\ncities are now piled high with containers filled with waste
\nimports. The government is currently negotiating with the
\ncountries of origin for reshipment.<\/p>\n
Mas Achmad said the new pact has "tightly shut the doors" on
\nthe loopholes that existed in the 1989 Basel Convention, and that
\nwhen it is implemented, the old principle in waste dumping
\npractices will be changed from "not in my backyard" to "not in
\nanybody's backyard."<\/p>\n
Continue<\/p>\n
He feared, however, that delaying enforcing the convention
\nuntil January 1, 1998, meant that industrialized countries will
\ncontinue to export their waste to developing countries under the
\npretext of recycling.<\/p>\n
He said the new convention still has some inherent weaknesses,
\nespecially regarding its implementation, and that developing
\ncountries, despite their number, are still at a disadvantage in
\nthe face of the might of industrialized countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia should take the lead in bringing together countries
\nin Southeast Asia, or in Asia for that matter, to ban the trade
\nof hazardous waste in the region, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the Organization of African Unity already issued such
\na resolution in 1991 and five Latin American countries followed
\nsuit in 1992.<\/p>\n
At home, the government must also follow up the ratification
\nof the new Basel Convention with legislation to ensure that the
\ninternational pact is enforced effectively, Mas Achmad said.<\/p>\n
He said that since the Basel Convention treats the trade of
\nhazardous waste as a crime, Indonesia should determine the kind
\nof punishment that should be meted out to individuals or
\ncompanies in violation of the convention.<\/p>\n
A regulation is also necessary to decide on the financial
\nresponsibility of the violators in the event of an accident
\ninvolving hazardous waste that results in financial damage to the
\ngovernment or the public, he said.<\/p>\n
There must also be greater transparency in the way the
\ngovernment deals with the problem of trade in hazardous waste
\nboth because of the public's right to know and so they can
\nactively participate in ensuring compliance with the rules, he
\nadded. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmental-group-not-impressed-by-new-basel-convention-1447899208",
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