Riau elite in dispute over sand exports

Riau elite in dispute over sand exports

Haidir Anwar Tandjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru

Riau's local elite have been involved in a serious dispute
over sand exports to Singapore with Riau Governor Saleh Djasit
threatening to sue a legislator who accused him of taking
advantage of the business to enrich himself.

Jahar Harahap, a legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said the governor should make the
export of sand more accountable, which according to many sides in
the province, has only benefited local government officials.

"Governor Saleh Djasit along with his cronies have received Rp
2 billion a month in fees from local mining companies. In
addition, he has set up a consortium to improve the province's
bargaining power but they have instead made a policy benefiting
the local administration," he said here early this week.

He pointed out that the consortium purchased the sand at a
price of between S$1 and $S1.5 per cubic meter but they sold the
sand to Singapore at a price of between $6 and $7 per cubic
meter.

"Besides adversely affecting the environment, the governor has
never revealed the level of income the province receives from the
business," he said.

The export of sand has sparked protest and criticism from many
sides because it not only causes material losses to the local
administration and local people, especially fishermen, but sand
mining is being conducted by unauthorized mining companies backed
by the local military.

Abdul Latief, spokesman for the provincial administration,
said the governor has been informed about the accusation and has
hired lawyers to file a lawsuit, accusing Jahar of slander.

"Jahar must unveil material evidence in court that the
governor is involved in corrupt and collusive practices," he
said.

Jahar has been instructed to make an apology in three local
newspapers for three consecutive days or we will sue him in
court," he said.

Tengku Rafian, an assistant to the provincial administration
secretary, said the provincial administration would bring the
case to court should Jahar fail to make an apology before the
public.

According to him, Jahar as a member of the House of
Representatives, should concentrate on his main task of
monitoring central government rather than the provincial
administration.

"His main task is to monitor the central government, not the
governor or regents," he said.

Wan Abu Bakar, deputy chairman of the provincial
administration, said Jahar as a legislator from the province had
a right to monitor the entire situation in the province but he
should not focus on discrediting local officials.

Suriadi P., chairman of the local chapter of PDI Perjuangan,
regretted the argument, saying Jahar had not been coordinated in
criticizing the governor over the export of sand.