JAKARTA: The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said on

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said on Friday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration had not been serious about addressing environmental issues in the country.

Walhi executive director Longgena Ginting said the government had prioritized the interests of local and international businesspeople rather than environmental preservation.

"The government has issued 150 licenses to international mining companies to explore protected forests although Law No. 41/2001 on the Environment (endorsed during the previous administration) clearly prohibits any mining activities in forest reserves," he said here.

Longgena also urged the People's Consultative Assembly to identify and record all conflicts related with the land and natural resources in the country.

"The government should restructure the institutions responsible for sustaining and maintaining natural resources," he added. --Antara

Accountability report misused: Ministry

JAKARTA: Inspector-general at the Ministry of Home Affairs Sarundayang said on Friday that the accountability report of mayors or governors had recently been targeted as the motive to overthrow the governing mayors or governors.

"We have to be able to separate between political and administrative matters. The assessment report made by the Regional Assessment Body (BPD) should not be utilized as the political instrument to attack someone (governing official)," he said, while adding that the accountability report should be used as a tool to find solutions to problems not faults with officials from rival parties.

Speaking at the National Meeting of Regional Administrations in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Sarundayang said that typically the provincial or regional legislative councils accepted the mayor's or governor's accountability reports each year but rejected them just before the end of their terms.

"The rejection (to one's accountability report) is connected with the succession process. Actually, the council does not have to waste its time on the report because it is already checked by BPD. They can, however, seek legal sanctions if repeated mistakes are made by an official," he said.

Recently, the accountability reports of Surabaya mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono and South Kalimantan governor Sjachriel Dahram were rejected by local councillors. Both are up for reelection. --Antara