SBY's 1.8 million hectare disaster?<\/p>\n
We all remember Soeharto's disastrous 1 million hectare sawah
\n(rice field) project in Central Kalimantan, the
\nconsequences of which still affect the province.<\/p>\n
Will President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) attach his name
\nto an even bigger ecological, sociological, climatic and
\nfinancial disaster and scandal with the 1.8 million hectare palm
\noil plantations project in the center of Kalimantan?<\/p>\n
Agricultural experts knew that rice could not grow in the peat
\nswamps of the 1 million hectare Soeharto project; now the Bogor
\nexperts warn that, besides all the disastrous effects on the
\nphysical and human environment of the project, the fact is that
\nthe area designated is not suitable for sawit palm.
\nThen what? Another sawit scheme,-- allowing the logging and
\ntotal deforestation of 1.8 million hectares of rain forest,
\ncomprising two national parks, for the benefit of some mainland
\nChina companies -- and then goodbye?<\/p>\n
It would not be the first time such a scheme would be carried
\nout but certainly the most gigantic so far. This would
\nundoubtedly discredit this reform President, his forestry and
\nagricultural ministries, two governors and a number of regents.<\/p>\n
All my wishes go out to the Indonesian Forum for the
\nEnvironment (WALHI) and the Dayak organizations in their efforts
\nto prevent this tsunami of greed.<\/p>\n
RASHID CARRI
\nPalangkaraya,
\nCentral Kalimantan<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sbys-18-million-hectare-disaster-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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