To dump or not to dump, that is Jakarta's question

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bekasi

Although the contract between Jakarta and Bekasi on the use of the Bantar Gebang dump expires at the end of this month, Bekasi remains unsure whether Jakarta will be permitted to continue dumping its daily 6,000 tons of garbage at the site.

Governor Sutiyoso has been confident of the contract's extension, but he was apparently not so sure on Tuesday, saying he was tired of the problem.

"Let's talk about that later," he told reporters at City Hall.

On Monday, Bekasi Mayor Akhmad Zurfaih told councillors that no final decision had been made. His statement was contrary to Sutiyoso's earlier statement that he had obtained "the mayor's word" that the extension would be forthcoming.

Bekasi deputy mayor Mochtar Mohamad was more direct, he said that Bantar Gebang would be reclaimed as a community area as Jakarta had violated their agreement to regreen Bantar Gebang.

Mochtar offered Jakarta the joint use of the smaller Sumur Batu dump in Bekasi as an alternative.

Bekasi's resistance irked City Council speaker Agung Imam Sumanto, who told reporters that no resident of Bekasi would be allowed to enter the capital, should Bantar Gebang dump be closed to Jakarta.

Mistaking Agung for an administration official, Abid Marzuki -- who claimed to be a prominent person in Bekasi -- said on Tuesday that Bekasi's residents thought Agung's statement was ridiculous.

"It is not proper for an administration official to utter such a thing. The problem is between the two administrations, so don't involve the innocent residents," Abid was quoted as saying by Antara.

For years Jakarta and Bekasi have been in dispute over the dump. In 2001, Bekasi municipality, backed up by the residents, closed the site for weeks, leaving Jakarta bewildered over how to handle the city's garbage.

Jakarta administration has claimed that it has made every effort to find an alternative site but, so far, it has had no such luck.