Indonesia govt told not to force through Bali Commitment<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government, currently hosting the UN meeting on
\nsustainable development here, should not insist that the final
\ndocument, called the Bali Commitment, be completed since there
\nare too many contentious issues blocking negotiations, NGOs say.<\/p>\n
Martin Kohr, who represented NGOs at the multidialog meeting
\nwith ministers on Thursday, said that forcing the completion of
\nthe document could damage the image and the reputation of
\nIndonesia as the draft plan of implementations contain \"bad
\nthings.\"<\/p>\n
\"We understand that the Indonesian government would like to
\nhave the name of Bali (on the document), but it would be better
\nto stick to the principles and to leave everything in bold rather
\nthan have a Bali Commitment that contained unfavorable things,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post after the meeting.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government is required by UN resolution to seal
\nthe draft plan of implementation for the World Summit on
\nSustainable Development during the current ministerial meeting in
\nBali.<\/p>\n
Since negotiations have met with so many stumbling blocks,
\nIndonesia has been approaching opposite groups to ensure that the
\ndraft plan of implementations is finalized in Bali before the
\nmeeting ends on Friday.<\/p>\n
Khor suggested that the unresolved points in the draft plan of
\nthe implementation be left in bold or brackets and be brought to
\nJohannesburg, where world leaders will have their summit in
\nAugust and September.<\/p>\n
\"The name of Bali would be worse. There is no harm in having a
\nfew square brackets in Johannesburg,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The meeting lasted for more than an hour, with not that many
\nministers attended the session, and only a few of them responded
\nto the major groups' statement.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by representatives of the nine major
\ngroups: NGOs, Youths, Women, indigenous people, scientists, local
\ngovernments, workers, farmers and businesses.<\/p>\n
These groups also requested that the draft plan incorporate
\nmeasures to demand corporate accountability and review the
\nBretton Woods institutions (the World Bank and the International
\nMonetary Fund).<\/p>\n
Youth, Women's, NGOs and indigenous people's groups are
\ndemanding that business communities consider the environmental
\nimpacts when conducting their activities.<\/p>\n
Khor further added that the Bali meeting would be meaningful
\nif it could promote an alternative economic paradigm that opposed
\ncurrent ones, now dominated by the World Bank, the IMF and the
\nWorld Trade Organization (WTO).<\/p>\n
The problems at the World Summit of Sustainable Development
\nwould remain the same, that is, that the implementation of
\nsustainable development would again be overshadowed by the World
\nBank, the IMF and the WTO, he remarked.<\/p>\n
The Bretton Woods institutions had stronger influence in the
\nworld as their agreements and policies as independent bodies were
\ncompulsory and legally binding.<\/p>\n
These institutions are considered to represent the interests
\nof multinational corporations and developed countries like the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the United Nations' conventions and
\nsummits, like the next one in Johannesburg, which favor
\ndeveloping countries do not enjoy the same kind of authority as
\nthe Bretton Woods institutions.<\/p>\n
Khor also said that the groups had asked developed countries
\nto support developing countries, especially in dealing with their
\nmounting debts.<\/p>\n
\"We also warn the governments not to take the partnerships
\nissue as a substitute for political commitments of the developed
\ncountries,\" he remarked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-govt-told-not-to-force-through-bali-commitment-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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