Few political parties have ecology agenda

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)