Genetically modified cotton seed arrives in Makassar from S. Africa

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): A total of 40 tons of genetically modified Bollgard cotton seed arrived at the Makassar airport from South Africa on Thursday amid strong protests from environmentalists.

The cotton seed, belonging to U.S.-based Monsanto, was imported by Jakarta-based PT Monagro Kimia. The seed will be distributed to seven regencies based on the recommendations of Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih.

A number of activists, waving banners reading "Reject Genetically Modified Cotton in South Sulawesi", tried to intercept the convoy of trucks carrying the cotton seeds, which contain Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and block them from leaving the airport.

A sign reading "Logistic Depot Rice" was placed on the front shield of the trucks.

The activists said that genetically modified products should be prohibited from directly entering the province, because the goods were still controversial. They should be quarantined for detailed examination before being distributed, the activists said.

The Ministry of Agriculture issued decree No. 107/2001 on Feb. 6, 2001, allowing limited sales of genetically modified seed in Sulawesi. This decree was, however, criticized by State Minister for the Environment Sonny Keraf.

Sonny has said that his office had to take precautionary measures as nobody could assure the safety of such crops (which are scientifically developed).

The authorities had apparently concealed the seed's arrival from the press.

The provincial plantation office denied reports of the seed's arrival on Thursday morning, but at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday The Jakarta Post noticed a Russian Ilyusin transport plane, with body number IL-76T, unloading the seed in the airport's military area.

The wide-bodied plane, chartered by Norse Air Charter from Johannesburg, was tightly guarded, and reporters and photographers were barred from approaching the plane.

Members of the Indonesian Air Force guarding the area said that reporters must back off for security reasons.

Four Monsanto officials, president director for Indonesia Hans Bijlmer, communications manager Tri Soekirman, regional manager Edwin Mudahar and public affairs officer Wahidin Alauddin eventually spoke to reporters in the airport canteen.

Tri Soekirman said that the cotton seed was imported to meet the needs of the province's farmers.

"It's the first import of such seed into the country. There are at least 400,000 hectares of cotton plantations to be developed by the farmers here," Tri Soekirman said.

Responding to the environmentalists' protests, he said that his office had been approaching the non-governmental organizations. "Apart from the fact that we hold the permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, we are also taking precautionary measures. Pros and cons are common in the world."

"People should not worry about the negative impact of the crops. There have been no complaints from the U.S., South Africa, China and Argentina (where genetically modified cotton has been grown)," he said, adding that Australia had cultivated genetically modified cotton for the past five years. (27/sur)