Govt enacts new environment law

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja revealed that President Soeharto had enacted Friday the new Environment Law which will crack down on forest burners.

Sarwono said yesterday there was "no way" companies guilty of burning forests in Kalimantan and Sumatra can get away with their unlawful deeds.

"The enactment of the law has given the government the immediate power to charge those alleged of polluting the environment," he told journalists.

Sarwono then pointed to Article 42 to 47 of the No. 23/1997 Environment Law which stipulates a maximum 15-year penalty and Rp 750 million (US$255,000) fine for offenders.

Compared to the previous environment law, the new law's punishment is more severe.

Last week, the government disclosed the names of 176 companies -- mostly plantation companies -- which satellite images revealed had fires raging on their concession areas.

The companies are facing revocation of their business licenses unless they can prove they did not start the fires.

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), has urged police to investigate these alleged perpetrators.

Attorney General Singgih also ordered his subordinates nationwide to initiate investigations.

Sarwono said yesterday that government investigators in the provincial chapters of the Environmental Impact Management Agency would assist police and prosecutors. The agency is chaired by Sarwono.

One of the main features of the new Environment Law is that it also allows "environmental organizations" to file a "class action lawsuit" against companies which are suspected of degrading the environment.

Sarwono said that the government would be empowered by the new law to take stern action against the alleged forest burners -- companies he has blamed for causing the thick haze now affecting several provinces and neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.

Separately, legislator Didin S. Sastrapradja of the dominant Golkar faction hailed yesterday the enactment of the law.

Didin said the law would also empower people to sue parties for allegedly polluting the environment and endangering lives.

He said he hoped the government would soon draft regulations for the implementation of the law on the grounds that "environmental problems have become more and more urgent recently".

"If implemented well, the law will be able to teach environment polluters a lesson," he said. (05/aan)