Govt seeks environment audit power<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has drafted a bill which seeks to
\nempower it to order companies to carry out environmental audits,
\nState Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Under the bill containing amendments to the 1982 Environmental
\nLaw, auditing can become compulsory instead of voluntary.<\/p>\n
"It (the new law) will give the government a tool to clobber
\nentrepreneurs who refuse to comply," Sarwono told reporters after
\nthe first reading of the bill in a plenary session of the House
\nof Representatives.<\/p>\n
The bill, submitted on Jan. 29, does not stipulate the kind of
\nenterprises that will be required to conduct environmental
\naudits, leaving that decision to the government.<\/p>\n
At least two large American joint ventures, the oil company PT
\nCaltex Pacific Indonesia and the gold and copper mining firm PT
\nFreeport Indonesia, have voluntarily completed environmental
\naudits.<\/p>\n
The bill strengthens the penalties on those destroying the
\nenvironment, setting a maximum jail term of 15 years for offenses
\nthat result in death or severe injury, and a maximum fine of Rp
\n750 million (US$312,000). The current law stipulates a maximum
\njail term of 10 years and a Rp 100 million fine.<\/p>\n
Sarwono has repeatedly complained that the 1982 law has not
\nbeen fully implemented by law enforcers and that judges have
\ntended to be lenient on defendants in environmental cases.<\/p>\n
He told the House yesterday that a tighter law was needed to
\ngive the state the necessary legal instruments to meet the
\nenvironmental challenges of the 21st century.<\/p>\n
Another major addition in the bill, according to Sarwono, is a
\nclause allowing environmental organizations to sue enterprises
\nfor environmental offenses, for the environment's sake but not
\nfor making claim compensation.<\/p>\n
Compensation claims can only be made by those who have been
\naffected by breaches of the environmental law.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the
\ncountry's leading green campaigner, was not impressed with the
\nbill, calling it a step backward from the 1982 law.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Walhi said the bill sought to "castrate"
\npeople's participation in the management and supervision of the
\nenvironment, which was guaranteed under the current law.<\/p>\n
The bill recognizes a role for the public but adds a clause
\nsaying that their participation is subject to "prevailing laws".<\/p>\n
Walhi said this clause, while formalizing the public's role,
\nwas likely to restrict people's participation which was against
\nArticle 28 of the Constitution on freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
The bill deletes an article in the 1982 law that recognizes
\nnon-governmental organizations' (NGOs) participation in
\nenvironmental management, Walhi noted.<\/p>\n
Many NGOs, which have helped preserve the environment, could
\nlose their legitimacy, it said. (aan)<\/p>\n
Parks -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-seeks-environment-audit-power-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }