Sony 'powerless' to cope with forest fires<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"I am really ashamed every time my counterparts
\nfrom Malaysia and Singapore call me to complain about the haze
\ncoming from Sumatra,\" State Minister of Environment Sony Keraf
\nsaid in an interview with The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
Sony said ministers from the two neighboring countries always
\nused well-chosen and polite words to tell him about the suffering
\nof their people due to the smoke.<\/p>\n
He described the burning of forests by big plantations and
\nforestry industrial estates as \"organized crime which often
\ninvolves government officials and military officers as the
\nbackers of the companies\".<\/p>\n
The minister warned that the country's relations with its
\nneighboring countries, including Thailand and Brunei, would be
\nseriously affected if the government failed to fulfill its
\npromises to stop the haze.<\/p>\n
\"Our neighbors are very upset with the smoke, but they refrain
\nfrom being too harsh for the sake of ASEAN solidarity,\" Sony
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
During the dry season, private and state owned firms slash and
\nburn forests, especially in Sumatra and Kalimantan, to expand
\ntheir palm oil and forestry estates.<\/p>\n
The resulting haze from the fires spreads to nearby countries
\nand causes health problems.<\/p>\n
Citing his own experience during a recent visit to West
\nKalimantan, Sony said local authorities, including the ministry
\nof forestry and plantations officials, were also responsible for
\nthe fires.<\/p>\n
Sony recalled how West Kalimantan Governor Aspar Aswin bluntly
\ndenied that two companies, PT Finantara Intiga and PT West
\nKalindo, had burned forests in the province to expand their
\nestates there.<\/p>\n
\"Although I showed him satellite data, he still repudiated
\nit,\" the minister noted.<\/p>\n
In other provinces, like Riau, provincial ministry of forestry
\nand plantation officials often blame local farmers as the most
\nresponsible for the fires in their regions.<\/p>\n
\"Many companies feel free to burn because government officials
\nor military officers back their activities,\" Sony said.<\/p>\n
Sony, who represents the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) in the Cabinet, is a doctor of philosophy. He
\ntaught business ethics at Atmajaya University before his
\npromotion to the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Sony's appointment was strongly opposed by environmentalists
\ndue to his poor experience and knowledge of the environment. He
\nhas slowly proved his capability.<\/p>\n
\"My office can not directly deal with the environment
\nviolators. I can only issue recommendations,\" Sony complained
\nwhen asked about obstacles he was facing as a minister.<\/p>\n
Sony, 42, hinted the government would never be able to stop
\nforest fires if it didn't have a strong commitment to law
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
He said the government's inconsistency had resulted in
\ncompanies defying its warning not to use slash-and-burn
\ntechniques in opening new land for plantations.<\/p>\n
From 167 forest fire cases since 1997, only one firm has been
\npunished. It was ordered to pay a fine. Forest fires during the
\nlong dry seasons in 1997 and 1998 affected some 10 million
\nhectares of forest, mainly in Sumatra and Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Citing satellite data from Singapore which showed 138 hot
\nspots in Riau last week, Sony said 23 forestry estates, including
\nPT Adey Crumb Rubber and PT Gunung Mas Raya and 21 plantation
\ncompanies, were involved in slash-and-burn activities.<\/p>\n
In North Sumatra, at least 193 hot spots on five forestry
\nestates, including 175 belonging to PT Inhutani IV, and eight
\nplantations were picked up by satellite cameras.<\/p>\n
Sony also said he had data showing that in Central Kalimantan
\nthe giant firm PT Salim Group was also involved. Fires in West
\nKalimantan involved six companies, including PT Cemaru Lestari,
\naccording to the minister.<\/p>\n
\"The companies will continue committing crimes because they
\nknow the government is unable to take any action against them,\"
\nSony complained.<\/p>\n
Sony said the government had a good opportunity to enforce the
\nlaw in Riau, where four companies would soon be taken to court
\nfor their crimes.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the court will be able to prove its capability of
\nenforcing the law,\" Sony remarked.<\/p>\n
The minister also disclosed the Ministry of Finance had agreed
\nto provide Rp 1.5 billion to his office for funds to monitor
\nforest fires throughout the country.<\/p>\n
\"My staff need money to buy plane tickets, for local
\ntransportation costs and for their lodgings during visits to the
\nlocations in the regions,\" Sony said.<\/p>\n
Sony has picked several experts from various ministries and
\nstate universities, including Sudharto P. Hadi, a professor of
\nlaw at Diponegoro University in Semarang, to assist him in his
\noffice on Jl. D.I.Panjaitan, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I need a strong team. But I do not know whether I will still
\nremain in the Cabinet after the next reshuffle,\" Sony said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sony-powerless-to-cope-with-forest-fires-1447893297",
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