Destruction of natural resources in Indonesia have been going on for so many years, and inflicting heavy losses not just to human beings but also to animals.
In the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, huge area of forests have been burned and/or cut either legally or illegally by companies and individuals who want to get money from the timber and/or land clearing for plantations. But unfortunately, not many of those who are responsible have been severely punnished.
In the eastern part of the island of Java, land area flooded by the mud flow caused by improper drilling process by PT. Lapindo Brantas is getting larger from day to day. Yet, no favorable solution for the victims has been found until now.
And in the western part of the island of Papua, environmental destruction caused by the gold & copper mining operations of PT Freeport-McMoran is getting larger from day to day.
In spite of the fact that Indonesia has already enacted an Environmental Management Law No. 23/1997, however considering there has been too much bureaucracy, resulting in very weak law enforcement and unfinished law enforcement.
Considering these facts, today the People's Representative Council (DPR) has passed the Environmental Protection and Management Bill, which will strengthen the role of the Ministry of Environment in terms of law enforcement & covers both environmental protection as well as recovery.
The new law will grant power to National Park Rangers so that they can investigate and arrest anyone who destruct the environment.
At present, the authority of the civilian Rangers is limited to investigating and forwarding any crime reports to the Police. With the new law, the Rangers would be able to investigate and arrest perpetrators and forward investigation reports to the Prosecutors.
For details on the above, please click here, here and here.
I hope that the new Environmental Protection & Management Law would be enforced accordingly so that there would not be illegal deforestation, improper mining operation and other acts of environment destrcutions in Indonesia. And anyone responsible shall be punnished.
Photo: Courtesy of The Jakarta Globe.
4 comments:
A fantastic post. I really enjoyed it ;-)
Indonesia's environment has been largely devastated by local and foreign industries. All in the name of economic development. Foreign investment donate to national income. While on the other side our environment has been antrapped by them on the scheme of "The shadow ecology". Yes, foreign investors come around for they have lack of their own natural resources. They get to ours instead... (Edwin)
This is a super post, Harry. What’s happening just makes me so sad. The natural resources of Indonesia are, I believe, amongst your greatest assets. It’s such a pity that so few western tourists get much beyond Bali. I would simply love to visit Borneo and Sumatra.
@Ana,
Yes very sad indeed.
I'll be glad to be your guide when you visit Jakarta.
@Edwin,
You are very right my friend, in the end Indonesia would only be their 'sapi perahan'.
Brittany,
I am so glad that you like this post
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