Singapore protests

Singapore protests

From Kompas

In relation to the smoke haze from Indonesia, The Straits
Times has written an editorial: Give us back our day..., all
about how Singapore and Malaysia should firmly but politely warn
Indonesia about the damage it is causing. This is saddening
indeed!

The Mangrove Foundation has protested against Singapore's
illegal buying of teki wood, collected by the poor people in the
Bengkalis regency. Singapore uses the teki wood (mangrove stems,
about 10 cm in diameter) as foundation poles for Singapore's
building development.

Can you imagine the destruction this is causing to the
mangrove forest in Riau.

Singapore, as payment, gives used goods such as clothes,
second-hand TV sets, and other household goods. In short it is
all rubbish. These poor people have no bargaining power and
accept what is regarded, in Singapore, as garbage.

Singapore remains unmoved by our protests and has not shown
the least concern over the damage to Indonesia's environment.

Now that Singapore feels the impact of the Indonesian
environmental damage, caused by the forest fires in Kalimantan,
its getting all excited about the destruction. This selfish
attitude of Singapore saddens us.

Therefore, we would like to suggest that the Indonesian
government establish a regional cooperation for preserving the
environment, dealing not only with forest fires but also
protecting the mangrove forest from illegal felling.

LISMAN SUMARDJANI

Mangrove Foundation

Jakarta