Few political parties have ecology agenda
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) is dismayed by the country's political parties lack of concern on environmental issues.
Walhi noted only four of Indonesia's 48 political parties to contest Monday's elections have environmental issues high on their agenda.
The four are the Indonesian Democratic Party of struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Justice Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB).
Another seven parties also address ecological issues on their agenda but they do not detail plans as to how they will implement their programs. They are the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the MKGR Party, the People's Sovereignty Party and the Democrat National Party.
Walhi noted that there was hope the next government would pay better attention to the environment because major parties, including Golkar, address the issue in their programs.
Walhi has five parameters it uses for sound environmental management:
* Decentralization of environmental and natural resources management, using an ecosystem approach rather than an administrative approach,
* Social control on environmental issues to allow a transparent decision-making process and greater public participation,
* Comprehensive approach to ecological management,
* Balance between exploitation and conservation of natural resources, and
* The people should receive fair treatment in the exploitation of natural resources.
"It's deplorable that 37 political parties, or 77.1 percent of the poll contestants, do not have clear platforms on environmental issues," Walhi said in a statement.
All the parties which include ecological issues on their agenda consider just treatment of the people in environmental affairs as a top priority.
The next priority is public control in environmental affairs, a balance between exploitation and conservation and decentralization of ecological management.
In its platforms, PDI Perjuangan pledges to form a clean government, and one of a set of criteria for a Cabinet minister it would choose if it wins the election is the commitment to promote democracy, human rights and conservation.
The party, which portrays itself as a defender of ordinary people, pledges to allow greater public participation in the decision-making process on ecological issues. It wants to promote community-based environment management.
PKB, PAN and the Justice Party share the general view but with different stresses.
In its platforms, PKB says that democratization, human rights and conservation are inseparable entities it would fight for if wins the elections.
Walhi applauds PAN, a nationalist-based party, for its vivid details on the time frame it sets for its environmental programs. For example, in its first 100 days in power, the party will form a "strong, reliable and respectable" institution in charge of the environment.
PBK stresses that a balanced exploitation and conservation of natural resources is a must and so is community participation in managing the management and decision-making process.
In its own agenda, Walhi proposes for reform in environmental management to realize balanced exploitation and conservation. It proposes the establishment of two departments: the Department of Exploitation and the Department of Conservation. (pan)