Aceh agency miffed by Walhi

Aceh agency miffed by Walhi

BANDA ACEH: Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam's regional infrastructure
agency has sent a formal legal objection to the Indonesian Forum
for the Environment (Walhi)'s Aceh office, protesting a statement
by the latter over a road project in the troubled province.

The agency's lawyer, Syariffuddin, said that Walhi's earlier
statement claiming that the development of a 504.9 kilometer
road, known by its local acronym as the Ladia Galaska, was
destroying forests was baseless.

"The statement contains elements of slander and libel against
the regional infrastructure agency," Syarifuddin said in his
letter, which was received by Walhi on Friday.

The lawyer demanded that Walhi make a public apology in a
number of national newspapers that quoted its statement on the
development of the road, which will stretch from the east coast
to the west coast of Aceh.

Meanwhile, Walhi executive Muhammad Ibrahim rejected the
demand on Tuesday, suggesting that the agency exercise its right
to reply in the newspapers concerned instead of lodging a formal
legal objection with Walhi.

"The objection is completely illogical, and we are ready to
face it," Ibrahim said. -- JP