Ban on nuclear debate protested at DPR
Ban on nuclear debate protested at DPR
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) took its complaint to the House of Representatives yesterday after its request to hold a debate on nuclear energy failed to win government approval.
About 50 members of Walhi and the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society (MAN) marched to the House to protest the Ministry of Home Affairs' refusal to issue the recommendation necessary for holding the meeting.
Emmy Hafild, Walhi's coordinator for special programs, said the organizers had already obtained the recommendation from the Office of the State Minister of Environment to hold the dialog.
"We followed every procedure suggested by the government," Emmy said when the delegation met with members of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), including Markus Wauran, Laksmiari Priyonggo, S. Djati Koesoemo, and Frits Timbang Radjagukguk.
The nuclear debate was originally scheduled to take place yesterday morning at the Bulungan Sports Center in Jakarta.
The government is expected to make the final decision next year on whether or not Indonesia will resort to nuclear energy. The National Atomic Agency (Batan) has been campaigning on behalf of the government to gain public support.
Walhi insists, however, that a full public debate must be held before any decision is made.
Emmy said this is the third time in the last six months that Walhi's plan to debate the nuclear energy issue was foiled, the others also due to an inability to obtain the necessary police permit. The first one was in December and the second in April.
She criticized the Ministry of Home Affairs for acting unfairly, citing a recent government meeting to promote the nuclear power program which was allowed to proceed.
Markus said the PDI faction will bring the matter to the House, where government hearings will start next week.
He also suggested that Walhi and the Anti-Nuclear Society use the House's facilities for the debate. "You will require no permit if the dialog is held here," he said.
The environmentalists held a protest in the House's main lobby by carrying posters and pictures remembering the Chernobyl nuclear tragedy.
The protesters also sang national anthems, including Indonesia Raya and Padamu Negeri as well as their own song, entitled Chernobyl.
Some demonstrators protested in their own way, with one student from Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, sealing his mouth with adhesive plaster in silent protest. (imn)