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.