Walhi urges firm action against 'ungreen' officials

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) praised yesterday Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's statement that many officials are easily bribed to allow development in the city's designated green areas.

But the remarks should be followed by concrete action against the crooked officials, the forum's coordinator for the capital's environment, A. Salam H.S, said.

"Statements are not enough to prevent the illegal practices. The municipality should also take immediate stern action," Salam told The Jakarta Post.

On Tuesday, Governor Surjadi said he had learned that some of his officials responsible for the city's green programs were often bribed, particularly to approve projects that convert green belt areas into commercial sites.

That's why many of the city's environmental programs, such as the Blue Sky program, the Clean River program and the one-million-trees campaign, were not running as well as expected, he confessed.

According to Salam, by punishing the corrupt officials who violated the urban spatial plans for their own benefit, the administration would increase the credibility of its claims that it is serious in wanting to protect the environment.

"How can you expect people to follow and obey the campaign to clean the environment if the administration cannot stop its own officials from collecting illegal money from the green projects?," asked Salam.

People, he said, wanted to see the municipality acting consistently, both in its policies and actions.

Salam said that the municipality would have to spend even more money in the future to rejuvenate the environment once it was damaged.

He also questioned the weak punishments given to violators of the existing environmental rules.

Environmental law No.4/1982 states that anyone who causes environmental damage can be fined up to Rp 100 million or sentenced to 10 years in jail.

"In reality, the authorities rarely fine violators due to several other considerations," Salam said.

For instance, he said, companies which had been found guilty of causing serious pollution often escaped penalty because the sanctions would affect the workers.

"Too many considerations when punishing delinquent companies will strengthen their position, making companies even more reluctant to obey the regulations because they're confident they will never be punished," Salam said.

"The municipality should not only see economic development as the priority, but it should protect the environment with the same commitment too," Salam said.

Surjadi has urged senior city officials to prioritize protecting the environment rather than accepting the money offered by businesspeople.

The municipality is planning to cover 6,500 hectares of the city's 65,000 hectares with trees by the end of 2005. (ste)