PAN chided as environment foe

PAN chided as environment foe

BATAM, Riau: A group of environmentalists lashed out at Amien
Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN) for cutting down hundreds of
bamboo trees to make 2,000 flag poles for its three-day congress
here.

"We regret the use of bamboo considering the fact that our
forest has already been damaged. Why they don't they erect metal
poles?" asked Andy, one of the environmentalists.

The congress opened on Monday.

The protest has been aired on local radio which is also heard
in Singapore and Malaysia.

Environmental groups have reported that some 4,000 hectares of
forests in Batam has been cleared for various reasons, including
construction projects.

In the current fiscal year, the local administration only
allocated some Rp 500 million of the Rp 2 billion required to
rehabilitate the forest. --Antara