'Silence over nuclear plant not consent'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The silence of residents in reaction to the
\ngovernment's drive to build a nuclear power plant near Mt. Muria,
\nCentral Java, should not be interpreted as consent, a seminar
\nstated over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Held by leading anti-nuclear campaigners, the seminar pointed
\nout on Saturday that local residents were silent because of their
\nlack of information on the project.<\/p>\n
"They're not nuclear plant experts, but they see with their
\nhearts (the danger of nuclear power plants)," said Zoemrotin
\nK.S., a member of the International Forum for Non-Governmental
\nOrganizations.<\/p>\n
The seminar accompanied the launching of a book titled "The
\nConstruction of a Nuclear Power Plant: Wisdom or Threat for Human
\nCivilization".<\/p>\n
Zoemrotin said that Mt. Muria residents were invited to the
\nseminar to explain their positions, but could not attend out of
\nthe fear that local authorities might take action against them.<\/p>\n
The seminar also featured, among others, Emmy Hafild, the new
\ndirector of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi),
\nlegislator Laksmiari, and Daniel Dhakidae from the research and
\ndevelopment center at the Kompas daily.<\/p>\n
A recent poll of 1,496 respondents revealed that the general
\npublic regard the issue as belonging to the realm of scientists
\nonly, and that only a few people are knowledgeable enough to talk
\nabout it.<\/p>\n
"Many of us don't feel comfortable discussing the planned
\nnuclear plant," he said.<\/p>\n
Laksmiari reported that she recently became upset and walked
\nout of a hearing with director of the Agency of Atomic Energy
\nDjali Ahimsa when he said that one needs to possess special
\nknowledge if one is to understand a nuclear plant project.<\/p>\n
The same poll found that 52 percent of the respondents --
\nselected from the educated middle class in big cities across Java
\n-- rejected the nuclear plant; 42 percent said they accepted the
\nidea and 6 percent did not have an opinion.<\/p>\n
Dhakidae noted that "the closer people live to Mt. Muria, the
\nmore they agree with the planned plant." He underlined, however,
\nthat the residents there were less educated than those polled,
\nwho have greater access to more information.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of Indonesia's largest Moslem
\norganization Nahdlatul Ulama, said in the preface of the book
\nthat silence does not justify the government's plans to build the
\nplant.<\/p>\n
"Just because they're silent doesn't mean that they don't
\nexist," he said.<\/p>\n
Most people can do nothing but watch in silence, said
\nAbdurrahman, who once said that he would fast on Mt. Muria if
\nconstruction of the plant goes ahead. "My interests are for the
\nNU members who live in the area," he once said. (16)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/silence-over-nuclear-plant-not-consent-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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