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