Environmental crime

The Jakarta Post's June 9 issue carried a story titled Environmental crime and graft: Evil twins written by Patrick Guntensperger. He effectively argued that crimes against the environment basically come down to a moral failure.

I have been appalled by the lack of concern many people have on how pollution would impact their own health. The issue is not awareness, and certainly education would likely not help. Many U.S. educated people I know, who disposed of their trash properly while living abroad, are now easily throwing trash out of their car window in Jakarta.

What we need is strict, enforceable laws with severe and harsh punishments in order for the people -- either the public in general or industrial corporations -- to save the earth from becoming a totally unbearable planet for our future generations to live on.

The future of the planet depends on this, and thus, the development of laws to deal with environmental crimes should be taken seriously. To develop an adequate legal infrastructure, the Office of the State Minister of the Environment would need to coordinate its activities with the Department of Justice, National Police, and local/regional authorities so that the related legal products could be consistently implemented and enforced.

Robust political will would also be necessary to ensure that crimes against the environment did not escape the law. Will the next government be able to do so successfully?

MAURA SOEPARJADI, Jakarta