Soeharto denounces critics on Kalimantan peat project<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto denied yesterday that the
\ngovernment's project to convert one million hectares of peat moss
\nland in Central Kalimantan into rice producing areas was a
\nhaphazard decision.<\/p>\n
The project is meant to compensate for the conversion of
\nagricultural areas on Java into housing complexes, industrial
\nestates and highways, Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
The project is aimed to guarantee food security and the
\ncountry's self-sufficiency in rice, he said. Indonesia first
\nreached rice self-sufficiency in 1984, but returned to importing
\nrice in late 1994 after bad weather destroyed domestic harvests.<\/p>\n
\"Frankly speaking, this is not a haphazard decision, but based
\non very strong reason,\" Soeharto said in an off-the-cuff
\nmeeting with farmers at the project site in Lamunti, Kapuas,
\nCentral Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a matter of whether we had the guts (to do the
\nproject) or not, but it's for the interest of our nation, not
\nonly now, but for the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) has repeatedly
\ncalled on the government to reconsider the megaproject, saying it
\nis off-target and threatens the environment.<\/p>\n
Walhi said recently that Kalimantan was not suitable for a
\nfood development project. Opening the land would also threaten
\nthe natural environment, including the habitat of orangutans and
\nproboscis monkeys.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto was confident the project would benefit the
\npeople, and vowed to prove the government was correct in its
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
Farmers, who have just received their land title directly from
\nthe President, thanked him for providing them better living
\nconditions. \"Now we have our own house and land, Pak,\" the
\nfarmers told Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The project, launched in February last year, involves
\nconverting one million hectares of peat land in Central
\nKalimantan into 638,000 hectares of rice fields. The remaining
\n362,000 hectares are to be used for horticulture, plantations,
\nconservation areas, housing and reservoirs.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports said the megaproject would cost Rp 5 trillion
\n(US$2.1 billion). PT Sumatera Timur Indonesia, a subsidiary of
\nthe Sambu Group, was appointed by the government to develop the
\narea.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the project would be financed by the country's
\nreforestation funds, but he did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
The company has succeeded in developing a peat area project in
\nRiau, according to the President. \"Their success in Riau can be
\nimplemented in Kalimantan, too,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The peat moss land should really be a source of livelihood,
\nbut we all have to struggle because we're challenged... by those
\nwho don't believe in this project,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto promised to prioritize the local people in the
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
The government plans to resettle Dayak farmers in Kalimantan
\nand people from densely populated Java to the new agricultural
\nland.<\/p>\n
The government has settled 3,000 volunteer transmigrants in
\nthe newly opened peat moss land in fiscal 1996\/1997, while
\nanother 20,000 families are being resettled in 1997\/1998, mostly
\nfrom Java. Each transmigrant family receives Rp 5 million
\n(US$2,174) from the government. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-denounces-critics-on-kalimantan-peat-project-1447893297",
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