NGOs decry drills in park

SURABAYA: The East Java branch of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) has condemned planned military exercises in the Pulau Sempu nature reserve as environmentally disruptive.

The second infantry division of the Army Strategic Command based in Singosari, Malang regency, has announced the plan.

Similar regrets were expressed by the Surabaya Legal Aid Office and the Care for Indonesia non-governmental organization, Antara reported Wednesday.

"The 877-hectare Sempu area, located south of the Sendang Biru coast, is a nature reserve which is home to a number of threatened and protected species, such as the Javanese eagle and the spotted leopard (harimau tutul)," Walhi director Icha Mariyana said.

Using the site for military practice would create environmental disturbances from noise and the felling of trees to set up tents.

Disturbing a nature reserve violates the 1990 law on conservation, she said, aside from pertinent decrees of the Ministry of Forestry. (anr)