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