Nothing to stop approval of water bill
Suherdjoko and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Jakarta
Despite mounting public opposition, the House of Representatives is set to endorse the controversial water resources bill when it convenes for a plenary session on Thursday.
Erman Suparno, the head of the House Working Committee deliberating the bill, said the plenary session had the authority to endorse the bill, which has sparked disagreements among government officials.
"Commission IV has constitutionally fulfilled the mandate of the plenary meeting to deliberate the bill. We have fulfilled the procedures by listening to suggestions from experts, academics and non-governmental institutions," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. House Commission IV deals with communications.
The House postponed deliberation of the bill last year due to criticism that it favored private interests rather than the public, and ordered Commission IV to educate people about the bill.
Dozens of university students rallied outside the House on Wednesday, calling on the public to reject the bill, which has been endorsed by big factions including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar.
In Semarang, Central Java, dozens of students held a rally in front of the provincial legislature building to express their opposition to the bill.
The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has repeatedly said that the bill does not protect the people's rights to safe and affordable water.
According to Erman, House commissions III and VIII oppose the bill, for different reasons. Commission III receives input from the agricultural ministry, while Commission VIII gets input from the energy and mineral resources ministry.
The agricultural ministry is fighting to protect farmers' access to water for irrigation, and the energy and mineral resources ministry has said the bill fails to regulate groundwater, which falls under its authority.
PDI-P, the largest faction in the House, said the bill was the best piece of legislation for the water sector.
"This is very good legislation and we must support it," said Karimun Usman.
Academics from state and private universities have repeatedly said the bill benefited the private sector only.
"You won't find the word 'privatization'. They made it complicated so that common people wouldn't understand," hydrologist Gatot Irianto of the Bogor Agriculture Institute said.
Controversial articles
Article 9(1) A permit to commercialize water may be given to individuals or corporations by either the central government or regional administrations, depending on their respective authorities.
Article 11(3) The arrangement of water resource management will be done with the involvement of the public and the private sector.
Article 29(3) Water to fulfill basic needs is the main priority of water resources management.
Article 29(4) Other priorities other than that mentioned in paragraph 3 will be approved in every river area by either the central government or regional administrations, depending on their respective authorities.
Article 38(b) Corporations and individuals can benefit from clouds by using weather modification technology after securing a permit from the government.
Article 40(3) State-owned enterprises, regional-owned enterprises, privately owned enterprises and the public may be involved in the development of the drinking water supply system.
Article 49(1) Water exports are not permitted unless the water supply is sufficient to fulfill basic needs.