What does nuke power mean to Muria people?
What does nuke power mean to Muria people?
By Y. Tri Subagya
JAKARTA: The government's plan to build a dozen nuclear
reactors on the Muria peninsula has become a warm topic among the
community. Some are for it, some are against it.
On one side, there are those who insist it be immediately
constructed to fulfill the national energy needs. On the other
side, many are still concerned about the dangers of nuclear
power, especially in an earthquake-prone region.
The differing opinions are difficult to judge, because both
sides have persuasive arguments to make.
The talks on the plant to be built in the Jepara regency,
Central Java however, seem to be still dominated only by
government officials and the intellectual circle. This is
understandable, since nuclear technology remains foreign to the
community at large.
Talks on the plant get their share among intellectuals through
discussions, workshops and seminars.
Ironically, common people and even the local community will be
the host to the project tend to be in a static and tense
position. Nuclear technology lies beyond their knowledge and
reflection though they are the first to be affected directly by
the project.
This is not only true for the community in Muria but also for
the people living near a dump for radioactive waste. They are the
ones facing the biggest risk.
Social dimension
Since a nuclear power plant is not just a technological
challenge but has social implications, the government formed an
inter-ministerial team on social responses in 1990.
This central government team was followed by the formation of
a Nuclear Power Plant Socialization Task Force at the regency
level in Muria.
Community members have also visited the Center for the
Development of Science and Technology (Puspiptek) at Serpong,
West Java. The visit, according to an official, was very timely
since the people got first-hand knowledge about nuclear energy
which made it less scary.
However they were only shown one side of the picture -- the
potential advantages for industry -- while the dangers were not
disclosed.
Research I did on the Muria Peninsula in 1992, revealed that
the Nuclear Power Plant is seen as a thing which will bring both
good and evil.
Hardship
Some Muria residents who still remembered the hardships when
they opened the village believe that the implementation of the
project will mean that they will be forced to leave their
hometown.
They still did not know how big the needed location is but
they knew that foundation and feasibility studies done by the
main consultant NewJec Inc. were being conducted along the 25
kilometer shoreline between Ujung Piring and Ujung Watu.
The restlessness can be felt especially among the elders who
think gloomily about the time they are going to be forced to
leave.
On the other hand, the presence of the project is perceived to
bring prosperity to the surrounding communities. Muria peninsula
which at present is a farming and fishery area, is expected to
instantly change into a modern city with ultra modern nuclear
power.
Then there are those who are indifferent to the project since
their daily problems are already burdensome. They chose to stay
clear of the discussion about the project by leaving it to the
authorities, and believe the ultimate decision lies with God.
They believed the government will not let the people suffer.
Should that prove to be illusion, they give up to the power of
God.
The writer is a researcher with the Jakarta-based National
Consortium for Nature and Forest Conservation in Indonesia
(Konphalindo), a research, training and documentation center on
environmental and development issues in Indonesia.
-- Berita Bumi