Factories urged to promote harmony
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim has called on factories to run social development programs to promote harmony with locals so that social problems can be avoided and their survival assured.
Nabiel said factories would die unless they worked hand in hand with locals in the areas where they operated.
"Factories will die unless they pay adequate attention to their surroundings," said Nabiel, who likened factories and locals to fish and water.
The minister made the statement during a field trip to PT Riau Andalas Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan regency, Riau, over the weekend.
The minister was referring to the fate of PT Inti Indorayon Utama, a pulp and rayon mill that recently moved to China following the rejection by local people of the company's presence in Porsea, North Sumatra.
Indigenous people in North Sumatra opposed the company's presence in the province because it neglected to establish a social development program with local people in the Toba-Samosir regency. They also claimed it caused air and water pollution in the regency.
Nabiel pointed out that most factories were accustomed to building walls around their plants to separate them from their surroundings, thus alienating local people.
According to him, it was only fair for plants to introduce social development programs for people in their surroundings to increase employment and improve their welfare.
"I personally appreciate the close ties between RAPP and locals here (Pangkalan Kerinci). To date the pulp and paper factory has had no serious problems with locals because the company contributes to the progress of the people. Under such a conducive climate and regional autonomy, local people care about the company's survival," Antara quoted him as saying.
The minister also asked factories to forge cooperation with local administrations, instead of the central government, to help solve problems.
He cited, for example, how in the past companies would nurture ties with the State Palace and the military to help them deal with labor problems or trouble with locals.
"Companies using such a dated practice would be committing suicide in the reform era. It is better for companies to solve existing problems before a conflict explodes," he warned.
Meanwhile, RAPP president Ibrahim Hasan said that while running a social development program with locals as well as employees, RAPP was still seeking an effective program in line with the real condition and the local culture in the regency.
He said the company, in cooperation with the local administration, hoped to devise an effective program for local farmers in an endeavor to fight poverty and backwardness in the regency.