S'pore concerned for environment<\/p>\n
We refer to Carl Chairul's article in the Oct. 31, 1994 issue
\nof The Jakarta Post entitled Singapore's complaint. Mr. Chairul's
\nletter had suggested that while Singapore complains of the haze,
\nSingapore had not shown a similar level of concern for other
\nissues such illegal dumping, illegal mining and destruction of
\nmangroves.<\/p>\n
Environmental issues raised by Mr. Chairul should be the
\nconcern of all countries and are certainly of deep concern to the
\nSingapore Government.<\/p>\n
The Singapore Government reiterates that it does not condone
\nany illegal affront to the environment in Singapore or outside
\nand will take appropriate legal action if its own laws are
\nbreached.<\/p>\n
Singapore has no jurisdiction over illegal activities carried
\nout in other countries. The Singapore Ministry of the Environment
\nhad however always provided full assistance and cooperation to
\nBAPEDAL in investigating cases such as illegal dumping and
\ntransboundary movement of wastes in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The wrongdoings raised by Mr. Chairul were committed by
\nprivate sector individuals and demonstrates the need for
\nvigilance and strict enforcement. A fuller account of the \"tug
\nboats\" case mentioned by Mr. Chairul illustrates this.<\/p>\n
This involved a consignment of food from Italy on board the
\nship \"Tashkent.\" A Hong Kong company responsible for selling the
\nfood consignment had engaged a Singapore company to arrange for
\nthe disposal of some of the consignment that was damaged. The
\ndamaged food comprised tomato sauce, pickled vegetables and
\ntinned fruits. The cargo of damaged food was off-loaded from the
\n\"Tashkent\" in international waters (outside Singapore) before it
\nentered Singapore.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian contractor was engaged to carry out the
\ndisposal. One of the terms of the disposal contract had been for
\nthe Indonesian contractor to comply with relevant laws in the
\ncountry of disposal. The tugboat and barge carrying the damaged
\nfood were handed over to the Indonesian contractor who was to
\nhave carried out the disposal legally and return the vessels. It
\ndid not.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian contractor was subsequently arrested by the
\nIndonesian authorities and the tugboat and barge were held by the
\nIndonesian courts as evidence during the trial against the
\nIndonesian contractor.<\/p>\n
Singapore and Indonesia agreed to set up a Indonesia-Singapore
\nJoint Committee on the Environment to look into such matters of
\nmutual interest. The first meeting of this committee was convened
\nby Singapore. The second meeting which will be convened by
\nIndonesia will be held in early 1995.<\/p>\n
AJIT SINGH<\/p>\n
First Secretary<\/p>\n
Embassy of the<\/p>\n
Republic of Singapore<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spore-concerned-for-environment-1447902657", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }