JAKARTA: The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said on
\nFriday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration had
\nnot been serious about addressing environmental issues in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Walhi executive director Longgena Ginting said the government
\nhad prioritized the interests of local and international
\nbusinesspeople rather than environmental preservation.<\/p>\n
\"The government has issued 150 licenses to international
\nmining companies to explore protected forests although Law No.
\n41\/2001 on the Environment (endorsed during the previous
\nadministration) clearly prohibits any mining activities in forest
\nreserves,\" he said here.<\/p>\n
Longgena also urged the People's Consultative Assembly to
\nidentify and record all conflicts related with the land and
\nnatural resources in the country.<\/p>\n
\"The government should restructure the institutions
\nresponsible for sustaining and maintaining natural resources,\" he
\nadded. --Antara<\/p>\n
Accountability report misused: Ministry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Inspector-general at the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nSarundayang said on Friday that the accountability report of
\nmayors or governors had recently been targeted as the motive to
\noverthrow the governing mayors or governors.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be able to separate between political and
\nadministrative matters. The assessment report made by the
\nRegional Assessment Body (BPD) should not be utilized as the
\npolitical instrument to attack someone (governing official),\" he
\nsaid, while adding that the accountability report should be used
\nas a tool to find solutions to problems not faults with officials
\nfrom rival parties.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the National Meeting of Regional Administrations
\nin Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Sarundayang said that typically
\nthe provincial or regional legislative councils accepted the
\nmayor's or governor's accountability reports each year but
\nrejected them just before the end of their terms.<\/p>\n
\"The rejection (to one's accountability report) is connected
\nwith the succession process. Actually, the council does not have
\nto waste its time on the report because it is already checked by
\nBPD. They can, however, seek legal sanctions if repeated mistakes
\nare made by an official,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Recently, the accountability reports of Surabaya mayor Bambang
\nDwi Hartono and South Kalimantan governor Sjachriel Dahram were
\nrejected by local councillors. Both are up for reelection.
\n--Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-the-indonesian-environmental-forum-walhi-said-on-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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