Walhi calls for reallocation, decentralization of resource

Walhi calls for reallocation, decentralization of resource

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi)
has called for the decentralization and reallocation of natural
resources in a bid to boost the people-oriented economy as part
of a reform agenda of environmental management.

The call was made as one of Walhi's recommendations in its New
Year briefing on the country's 1999 environmental condition here
Wednesday.

"It is obvious that no essential changes in environmental
policies have yet been made in this reform era. The local
environment was never given enough attention under the past
regime... and now it is more or less the same," Emmy Hafild,
Walhi's chairwoman, said.

"The environment is not seen as an integral part of
development, but is merely an 'appendage'," Emmy told The Jakarta
Post.

"This is proved by various incidents ranging from forest fires
to floods and pollution ... in the last couple of years. All of
that has added to the gloomy condition of our environment this
year," she said.

Affirmative actions such as giving greater autonomy to the
provinces are needed to give the people a greater say in managing
natural resources and dealing with environmental problems, Emmy
added.

"The current environmental structure and policies built by the
government put more stress on exploitation rather than
conservation.

"The environment is seen as an object... and it still fails to
draw the full attention of the government, which has the economy
and politics as its top priorities."

Emmy cited a presidential instruction to the Minister of Mines
and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto to support the giant American
mining company PT Freeport in boosting its production up to
330,000 metric tons per day -- even though the company was
swamped with allegations of environmental abuse.

"Everyone is busy thinking about how to put the economy back
on track without seriously considering the environmental aspects.

"Therefore, through decentralization of the system combined
with a people-oriented economy... stronger public control can be
built so people can determine how far exploitation should go and
how to preserve natural resources."

Unsustainable development policies must also be reviewed, she
said.

"We will urge the government to abolish policies that
contribute to the destruction of the environment."

Emmy said the government should improve forest management,
review the transmigration program and entirely stop the
"irrational" experimental one million hectare peat moss farmland
project in Central Kalimantan.

"We want the government to stop the project and rehabilitate
the area for the sake of the environment and the local people,"
she said.

Indonesia has been a target of criticism for its poor forest
management, which has resulted in the destruction of parts of its
forests. Walhi reported that more than 127,000 hectares of forest
in East Kalimantan had been razed by fire over the past two
years, causing more than Rp 2.2 trillion in material losses.

Indonesia has more than 144 million hectares of tropical
forests, which are only one of the country's rich natural
treasures, she added.

"We need concrete steps and sincerity from the government. So
we, too, vow to help the campaign for fair and open elections and
hope for a new and better government that cares for the
environment," she added. (edt)