Golf course affair

Golf course affair

I read with interest your editorial Golf: Complicated game on May 18, 1995 about Bira Island and how familiar this all sounds.

How does the developer escape prosecution for so obviously flouting Indonesian planning and environmental laws?

How does the City Administration explain how they allowed irreparable damage be done to Bira Island, part of the protected area of the Thousand Islands? Surely it is difficult to hide building a golf course? Why no immediate action to enforce the laws of the land?

How can the City Development Planning Agency state that they want a solution that will not stop construction of the golf course? Surely this line of (in)action allows the developer to profit from his blatant disregard of the State's laws and highlights the City Administration's impotency in such matters.

Unfortunately we all know the questions but can only imagine the answers (as suggested in your editorial).

DUNCAN FORBES

Jakarta