Japan court clears Walhi of fee

PEKANBARU, Riau: The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) may proceed with its class action against the Japanese government unhindered, as the Tokyo District Court has exempted it from a Rp 7.7 billion (US$905,000) administration fee.

Executive director of Walhi's Riau chapter M. Teguh said on Thursday the court decided in the latest hearing on Jan. 22 to meet the request from the non-governmental organization for the exemption.

"The court accepted our argument that we are a nonprofit organization," Teguh said.

Walhi's Riau chapter took the Japanese government to the Tokyo district court for inundating 13 villages along the Kampar River, which borders Riau and Jambi provinces, for the Koto Panjang dam and hydropower plant projects.

Walhi is representing 8,396 residents from the villages affected by the projects who signed up to the class action.

The Rp 2.1 trillion projects have affected some 24,000 people. -- JP