Walhi pledges to maintain stance on the environment

Walhi pledges to maintain stance on the environment

JAKARTA (JP): Prominent environmental group Walhi celebrates
its 16th birthday today. It has pledged to continue its current
work despite growing criticism that it has deviated from its
original mission.

Walhi, an Indonesian acronym for the Indonesian Forum for the
Environment, is entering its "adolescence" and is becoming
naughtier and more difficult to control than ever, said the
organization's executive director, Emmy Hafild, yesterday.

She said Walhi had deviated slightly from its original mission
to better serve society.

It has become more outspoken. Instead of just striving to
raise public awareness on environmental issues, Walhi has begun
pushing for reform of the government policies which it considers
hurt people and the environment, she said.

"Environmental destruction has increased significantly. The
public has become better aware of the issues. It's now time for
us to be more of an organization advocating people's rights and
obligations in environmental affairs," Emmy told The Jakarta
Post.

Emmy said good environmental management could only happen if
people aware of their rights, obligations and responsibilities
control it.

Emmy was responding to a recent remark by State Minister of
Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja that Walhi had "deviated from
its original purpose".

"Walhi was established as an umbrella organization to foster
and support other environmental groups, rather than as an
advocacy group," Sarwono said last week.

Sarwono cited a lawsuit filed by Walhi and other groups
against President Soeharto over his decree granting Rp 400
billion (US$183 million) intended for reforestation programs to
the state-owned aircraft company IPTN. The funds were used to
finance the development of the N-250 aircraft.

The Jakarta State Administrative Court rejected the lawsuit,
saying it did not have the jurisdiction to handle the case.

In 1994, Walhi sued the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the
American mining company PT Freeport Indonesia for environmental
destruction in Timika, Irian Jaya.

Walhi leaders admitted yesterday that one of the many
shortcomings they had to overcome was the poor skill of its
personnel, something which hampers its ventures into the
political side of environmental issues.

Members of Walhi's central board in Jakarta agreed yesterday
that many regional chapters were unable to confront the
authorities or mediate in disputes.

Lili Hasanuddin, a forest campaign coordinator, said that many
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in other parts of the
country were unprepared for the political risks that accompany
their advocacy work.

"We have no intention of stealing the show away from other
groups. On the contrary, we hope that other NGOs will be more
vocal in expressing their views," Emmy said.

There are 267 environmental groups across the country.

Walhi is striving to achieve financial independence within the
next six years, Lili added. He said the organization was hoping
to find local donors soon.

Walhi's successes include the introduction of environmental-
impact analyses in development projects. The government now
refuses to grant businesses operation permits unless they conduct
environmental assessment programs. (14)