Indonesia's top musician joins anti-nuclear campaign in Japan
Indonesia's top musician joins anti-nuclear campaign in Japan
JAKARTA (JP): Noted composer Harry Roesli will take part in an
anti-nuclear campaign in a number of Japanese cities in an effort
to prevent the export of the country's nuclear technology to
Indonesia.
"We are not ready for nuclear plants. We are not even ready to
take care of buses and public toilets," he told reporters last
night preceding his departure for Tokyo.
Harry said that he is deeply concerned over Indonesia's
readiness to handle such technology, which requires high
standards and discipline. Referring to the accident in Chernobyl,
Ukraine, in 1988, he was sure that the horrible disaster might
also occur in Indonesia.
"We are not against the technology. But aren't there any other
alternatives?" he asked. "Let the people decide whether they need
nuclear or not!"
Harry, who represents the Indonesian Environment Forum (Walhi)
and Indonesia's Anti-Nuclear Society (MAI), will be touring
Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka for a week, starting from
June 5.
He has been invited by a committee working for the banning of
nuclear exports from Japan to Indonesia. During his tour of
Japan, Harry will perform songs with lyrics exhorting listeners
to environmental awareness. He hopes the Japanese people will be
sympathetic to his message and encourage their government not to
send nuclear technology to Indonesia.
The tour has been planned by a number of Japanese non-
governmental organizations such as Muria Forum and the No Nukes
Asia Forum.
The government is planning to build 12 nuclear power plants on
Java in the next 25 years at the rate of one every two years --
with capacities varying between 600 and 1,000 megawatts - to help
the country cope with the rapid increase in electricity demand.
A feasibility study on the plant has been completed by NewJec,
a subsidiary of the Japanese Kansai electricity company, which
has political clout in Japan. The consultants have been paid 1.5
billion yen (US$15 million) to carry out the study.
Muhammad Anum, Walhi's campaign manager against nuclear power,
believes that the construction of the nuclear plant in Indonesia
is being heavily lobbied for by the world's nuclear industry.
He said that the industry has pressed Indonesia to construct
the plant in order to encourage other developing countries to
follow suit. (par)