RI missing out on ASEAN haze agreement: Activist
RI missing out on ASEAN haze agreement: Activist
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia will likely miss out on the benefits of the ASEAN
Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, and, more importantly,
lose the opportunity to show diplomatic goodwill, by delaying its
ratification of the accord.
"It is a pity that Indonesia cannot benefit from the
agreement, such as the ease in receiving help from other
countries in combating future forest fires," said Sukanda Husein,
a senior researcher at the Indonesian Center for Environmental
Law (ICEL).
The agreement contains provisions on monitoring, assessment
and prevention, technical cooperation and scientific research,
mechanisms for coordination, lines of communication, information
exchange, simplified customs and immigration procedures for
emergency response and disaster relief, and the establishment of
an ASEAN Coordinating Center for activities under the accord.
The agreement came into effect on Nov. 25, 60 days after
Thailand's ratification of the agreement.
Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam had already
ratified the accord, which required ratification by six countries
to come into force.
Indonesia, where forest fires have become common, has not
ratified the agreement.
Sukanda said Indonesia's failure to sign the accord could be a
source of disappointment for neighboring countries.
"The agreement can be seen as a diplomatic courtesy from
Indonesia's neighboring countries, rather than suing Indonesia
for haze pollution," said Sukanda.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Trismardiyati, the head
of ratification of international agreements at the Office of the
State Minister for the Environment.
"There is the possibility Indonesia will be brought to the
international court if haze originating from Indonesia happens
again," said Trismardiyati, adding that Indonesia would
technically have no say in decisions made by signatories of the
agreement.
Sukanda suspects vested interests in the forestry industry or
a reluctance on the part of the government to compromise national
sovereignty were behind the government's failure to ratify the
haze agreement.
The deputy chief of the environmental subcommission at the
House of Representatives, K. Tunggul Sirait, said the government
was probably not prepared to implement the agreement.
Liana Bratasida, deputy for environmental conservation at the
Office of the State Minister for the Environment, however, said
his office had completed the preliminary procedures for
ratification and had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the State Secretariat.
"Unfortunately, the procedures are quite complex and it seems
that the State Secretariat is still considering the matter," said
Liana, adding that Indonesia's neighbors were continuing to
cooperate with Indonesia in handling forest fires.
Liana represented Indonesia in initialing the haze agreement
on June 10, 2002, in Kuala Lumpur, during the World Conference
and Exhibition on Land and Forest Fire Hazards.