Japan asks RI to pay compensation for dam<\/p>\n
Dow Jones, Tokyo<\/p>\n
Japan has asked the Indonesian government to compensate villagers
\non Sumatra Island forcibly resettled from their land to make way
\nfor a Tokyo-funded hydropower dam on the border of West Sumatra
\nand Riau, Kyodo News reported from Jakarta on Tuesday, citing
\ndiplomatic sources.<\/p>\n
According to the sources, Tokyo takes issue with Indonesia's
\nfailure to fulfill pledges to provide replacement rubber
\nplantations and clean well water to villagers displaced by the
\nconstruction of Kotopanjang Dam, Kyodo added.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has received the request and is now speeding up the
\ndrafting of measures to aid the villagers, the sources said.<\/p>\n
The request follows reports some 3,000 people from 13 villages
\non the island are planning to file a lawsuit with the Tokyo
\nDistrict Court against the Japanese government for losses they
\nsuffered due to forced resettlement. It would be the first time a
\nproject paid for by Japan's official development assistance has
\nbeen legally challenged.<\/p>\n
Kotopanjang Dam, built on a protected forest and traditionally
\nowned land in the provinces of Riau and West Sumatra, was
\ncompleted in 1997 at a cost of Y36.4 billion. Of that, Y31.18
\nbillion was paid for by a yen-denominated government loan.<\/p>\n
As a result of the dam construction, 12,400 hectares of
\nfertile valley land have been submerged and 4,866 families
\nforcibly moved.<\/p>\n
The villagers have been left without proper living facilities,
\nsuch as clean well water on the resettled land, and have not been
\nguaranteed job opportunities there, becoming \"developmental
\nrefugees,\" according to supporters of the villagers.<\/p>\n
Japanese government sources said the aid project was meant to
\nserve as a \"model case\" of having the recipient country fulfill
\nconditions such as obtaining the consent of villagers to
\nresettle, Kyodo said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-asks-ri-to-pay-compensation-for-dam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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