Court delays ruling on reclamation

Court delays ruling on reclamation

JAKARTA: A panel of judges from the State Administrative Court
decided on Wednesday to postpone delivery of a ruling on a
lawsuit filed by six companies involved in the Jakarta northern
coast reclamation project against the Office of the State
Minister for the Environment.

"We are delaying delivery of our decision for a week to allow
both parties to settle the case out of court. We shall resume
reading the verdict whatever settlement is reached by both
disputing parties," presiding judge Edy Nurjono told the court.

A lawyer for the state minister's office, Johanis Tanak, said
his client would not annul the decree, which recommended a halt
to the reclamation project, as it would further damage the
coastal environment.

"We will not accept an out-of-court settlement," he told
media.

Ch. Agus Liana, who represents the plaintiffs, said that they
welcomed an amicable resolution, but could not say what kind of
settlement they would offer to the minister.

The trial started in July 2003. The court has delayed its
verdict several times since then. Many environmental watchdogs,
such as the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) and
the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) accused the
court of intentionally prolonging the trial to allow time for
negotiation. -- JP