YLKI urges House to reject nuclear bill

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) urged the House Representatives yesterday to reject the bill on nuclear energy and the government's plan to build nuclear plants.

Foundation chief Tini Hadad said that if the bill is accepted, it would mean that the House supports the government's controversial plan to build nuclear plants.

"The public is watching whose interests the House will defend," Tini said in a statement.

State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said on Thursday that the government would not begin construction of a nuclear power plant until the bill is passed into law.

"The statement implies that a nuclear power plant will not be built in any part of the country if the House rejects the bill," Tini said.

YLKI said that it is unwise to allow nuclear experts alone to decide whether a nuclear plant is necessary or not. "Sociologists, philosophers, health and medical experts, legal experts and the common people should be heard too," Tini said.

If a nuclear disaster occurred, the public will suffer greater risks than the project managers, the legislative body or anyone who recommended the nuclear plants, she said.

She suggested that the House should learn from the Chernobyl tragedy of April 26, 1986, where a nuclear project exploded and affected not only the people who lived near the site, but also Europe and countries which imported European products.

"YLKI's research discovered that some canned milk imported from European countries was contaminated with radioactive substances," Tini said.

Indonesia is still rich in alternative energy sources which are environmentally friendly," Tini said.

She insisted that there are other more urgent bills which deserve priority for discussion.

Indonesia currently has three small nuclear reactors which are being used chiefly for research purposes. (31)