Walhi protests governor proposal<\/p>\n
PADANG, West Sumatra: An environmental group has issued a
\nstatement in protest over West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi's
\ndecision to issue a letter of recommendation to the central
\ngovernment to grant 49,440 hectares of forest concession to a
\nplantation company.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment's (Walhi)
\nWest Sumatra chapter, Agus Teguh Prihartono, said on Thursday
\nthat having filed the recommendation, the governor had bypassed a
\nteam of experts and government, which was studying whether the
\ncompany deserved the concession.<\/p>\n
\"The governor filed the recommendation saying that the team of
\nexperts approved the concession, while in fact, we the team have
\nnot yet completed the study. We deplore the governor's actions,\"
\nsaid Agus.<\/p>\n
The forest concession in question is located in Siberut
\nIsland, in the Mentawai group of islands. The letter was sent on
\nSept. 5 to the Ministry of Forestry and in the letter, the
\ngovernor asked the minister to allow plantation company PT Salaki
\nSumma Sejahtera to operate on Siberut Island.<\/p>\n
The newly elected West Sumatra governor could not be contacted
\nfor comment on Thursday. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/walhi-protests-governor-proposal-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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