Planned Java-Bali bridge sparks strong criticism

Planned Java-Bali bridge sparks strong criticism

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Plans to build a bridge linking the resort island of Bali with
Java drew strong condemnation from a number of various quarters
on Monday.

The Bali provincial government, local legislators, non-
governmental organizations and visiting members of the House of
Representatives all strongly rejected the plan, scheduled to
start in 2003.

Bali Deputy Governor Alit Putra said on Monday the
construction of the bridge would likely create new problems for
the province, one of the world's most famous tourist
destinations.

"Presently, Bali, especially Denpasar city and Badung regency
(the island's richest areas) are facing serious problems in
dealing with local migrants from Java and other islands in
Indonesia," he said.

The influx of migrants to Bali had been aggravated by the
country's economic and political crisis, which started in l997.
The prosperous island has been considered unaffected by the
crisis in terms of economic and social stability.

"If the central government insists on implementing the planned
project, it is our people and our land which will bear the
burden," Alit added.

Opposition also came from at least 14 members of the House's
Commission VIII dealing with science and technology, environment,
mining and energy, who visited the island on Monday.

They met with Alit and numerous local officials to investigate
local reaction to the planned project.

Commission vice chairman Paulus M. Saul de Ornay said the
central government, in this case President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, should thoroughly reconsider the plan and talk to
the people and the local administration before implementing the
project.

"I'm not so sure that the idea comes from the President. We
will find out immediately after she returns home," said Paulus.

The planned construction of the Java-Bali bridge is expected
to lure more migrants to Bali and will likely cause further
environmental, economic and social problems on the island.

The plan was announced when Megawati was visiting China, North
Korea and South Korea.

On her visit to China, Prime Minister Zhu Rongji assured
Megawati that the Chinese government would be willing to provide
financial and probably technical and technological assistance to
build two bridges, the second over the Sunda Strait linking Java
and Sumatra.

The Chinese government has also promised to help Indonesia to
build double railway tracks throughout Java.

A number of local officials and members of regional
legislative bodies as well as members of local NGOs have also
expressed similar concerns over the central government's plan.

I Ketut Muliarta, chairman of Bali and West and East Nusa
Tenggara's Environmental and Development Planning Agency, said
the current development projects in Bali had caused serious
problems to the island's environment with the uncontrolled influx
of migrants.

"Any development project to be implemented here must precisely
calculate the island's burden capacity," Ketut said. "Bali is now
like an old man who has to carry a heavy burden on his shoulders
because of unplanned and unwise development projects and the
flood of tourists and migrants," he said.

I Nyoman Sudarma, vice chairman of the provincial legislative
body, earlier suggested that Megawati and other related officials
hold comprehensive talks with the people of Bali from all walks
of life before exposing the plan internationally.

"The president should not view the subject from an economic
point of view while ignoring cultural, religious and socio-
economic aspects of Balinese society," he said.