Prosecutors blamed for dropping pollution case<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The public prosecutor's office in Mojokerto,
\nEast Java, has been brought to court by three non-government
\norganizations for calling off a law suit against a local pulp and
\npaper industry.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) has joined forces
\nwith Citra Asri Nusantara in Malang, East Java, Pondok Pesantren
\nAn-Nuqayah, a Moslem education institution in Madura, in
\npetitioning the Mojokerto court to compel the public prosecutors
\nto proceed with the litigation against PT Pakerin.<\/p>\n
The Mojokerto court has agreed to hold a pretrial hearing
\nbeginning this week.<\/p>\n
According to Walhi, the public prosecutors called off the
\nlitigation on June 5 last year, which was also Environment Day,
\nsaying that they lacked sufficient evidence to press charges
\nagainst PT Pakerin.<\/p>\n
The attitude of the prosecutor's office contrasted with that
\nof the office of the State Minister of Environment which said
\nthat the pulp and paper firm was polluting the Porong river.<\/p>\n
People living near the area have also complained that the
\ncompany's operations have polluted their wells and damaged their
\nfarms, Walhi said, adding that their complaints were backed by
\nlaboratory findings.<\/p>\n
The Environmental Impact Management Agency also found that the
\ncompany's waste discharged into the river did not meet
\nbiochemical oxygen demand (BOD) standards set by the government.<\/p>\n
"We're taking the prosecutors to court because we want law
\nenforcement officials to be consistent in applying environmental
\nregulations. The litigation against the company is also crucial
\nin the campaign against industrial polluters," Mas Achmad Santosa
\nsaid on behalf of Walhi.<\/p>\n
Mas Achmad said the East Java provincial government has also
\nintervened on several occasions to block legal action against PT
\nPakerin, one of 566 in the province that were netted during a
\nmassive official campaign against polluting companies in 1991.
\n(prs)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-blamed-for-dropping-pollution-case-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}