Legislators upbeat about controversial water bill<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Legislators deliberating the controversial water bill were
\noptimistic on Saturday that the draft would be endorsed before
\nthe House of Representatives ended its current sitting session on
\nDec. 19.<\/p>\n
"The schedule will be discussed on Monday and we may resume
\ndeliberating the bill on Dec. 3 or Dec. 4," said Erman Suparno,
\nchairman of the House working committee for the bill.<\/p>\n
The bill has sparked controversy due to its contents which
\nsome observers say position water as an economic rather than
\nsocial commodity.<\/p>\n
"But we don't know whether Commission IV will approve it. It
\ntakes time," said Erman, a politician from the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), referring to the commission for communications and
\nsettlements.<\/p>\n
The deliberation of the bill had been postponed due to public
\nopposition concerning the privatization of the water sector. The
\nHouse had asked the committee to invite more public
\nparticipation.<\/p>\n
Erman said that the House would stage a road show across the
\ncountry to promote the bill.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 28, the Ministry of Settlements and Regional
\nInfrastructure, which strongly supports the bill, paid for a two-
\npage supplement in Kompas daily, the biggest newspaper in
\nIndonesia, to publish the 96 articles of the bill. It invited
\nreaders to give input to the ministry.<\/p>\n
Legislator Erwin Pardede of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nfor Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said that the committee would only
\nneed a few days to finish the bill because they only have to
\ndeliberate three articles on irrigation, weather modification,
\nand the regulatory body.<\/p>\n
"It may only take two or three days. We will finish it this
\nyear," he said confidently.<\/p>\n
Earlier, some non-governmental organizations suggested that
\nthe endorsement of the controversial water bill was linked to the
\nlast disbursement of the US$300 million loan granted under the
\nWorld Bank-sponsored Water Resources Sector Adjustment Loan
\n(Watsal).<\/p>\n
But Erwin insisted on Saturday that the deliberation of the
\nbill had nothing to do with the loans.<\/p>\n
"This bill is for Indonesians. If the World Bank wishes to use
\nit, then it is fine. It's just a coincidence," Erwin said.<\/p>\n
Based on the Watsal scheme, the World Bank will disburse the
\nloans in three stages. The first $50 million was disbursed in
\nJune 1999 and the second disbursement of $100 million was made at
\nthe end of 2001.<\/p>\n
The remaining $150 million will be disbursed once Indonesia
\ncompletes its water reform initiative, which includes the
\nenforcement of a water resource law that allows the privatization
\nof the water sector.<\/p>\n
The World Bank has indicated that it may not disburse the
\nthird and last trance of the Watsal if Indonesia fails to produce
\na bill on water resources to meet a 1999 commitment on water
\nresources policy reform.<\/p>\n
The government made a commitment with the World Bank on Watsal
\nin 1999, when the government faced severe financial difficulties
\ndue to the prolonged economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The World Bank has rejected the accusation that it involves in
\nbringing in giant foreign companies to invest in the water sector
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
Analysts have said that the government may face difficulties
\nto maintain its financial balance if the bank stops its third
\ndisbursement of Watsal.<\/p>",
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