'Parliament Watch' for environment to be set up

'Parliament Watch' for environment to be set up

JAKARTA: State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim
disclosed on Tuesday his plan to establish a monitoring body in
all regions nationwide to observe the works of city councillors
in connection with the implementation of environmental policies.

The policies Nabiel was referring to include those on
landslides and the prevention of floods.

Nabiel said the monitoring bodies would be termed as the
"Parliament Watch".

"The monitoring bodies will be established in city councils
and their members will comprise lovers of the environment, those
who really care about Indonesia's environment ... not members of
political parties," Nabiel told reporters in Bandung, West Java.

Nabiel said the sole function of Parliament Watch members
would monitor and report on the environmental policies taken by
the city councillors.

"The members of the monitoring bodies will name the
councillors who genuinely care about environmental issues and
others who do not ... and whether councillors actually listen to
the public about what they want in relation to such issues,"
Nabiel said.

Nabiel said that it was his hope that the monitoring bodies
would act as a catalyst for the councillors, to be able to voice
the general public's complaints on environmental issues, and
help the public deal with environmental dangers.

Killer floods that hit the nation and swept away hundreds of
lives within days, leaving hundreds of thousands of people
without homes or employment across the nation, reflects the
government's ill intentions of not wanting to part with extra
relief funds. -- Antara