Minister Susi Urged Not to Extend Benoa Bay Reclamation Permit

TEMPO.CO, Badung - Thousands of Balinese people gathered on Lagoon Field, Nusa Dua, South Kuta District on Sunday to demonstrate against Benoa Bay reclamation.

The wave of rejection from Balinese people has been gaining grounds in the actions against the project of PT. Tirta Wahana Bali International (TWBI), a business network owned by tycoon Tomy Winata. The massive demonstration was staged ahead of the deadline for Marine Affairs and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to decide on the extension of location permit for the reclamation project.

The coordinator of Balinese People Forum Against Reclamation (ForBali) I Wayan ‘Gendo’ Suardana in his speech said that the investor, PT. TWBI, has filed a request for extension of location permit for reclamation project which has been received by Minister Susi on June 16, 2016. Whilst Minister Susi has until July 13 or 14 to answer the request.

Gendo said that indigenous village association (pasubayan) against Benoa Bay reclamation has submitted a letter to Minister Susi to turn down the request for location permit extension. “Indigenous villages pasubayan comprises of 38 [villages], there are 82,000 head of household, around 400,000 people are ready to back Minister Susi against location permit extension,” he said.

Gendo expressed that the rally on the intersection of Denpasar-Nusa Dua main roads has send a message to the government who has been adamant toward allowing PT. TWBI to proceed the reclamation project.

“If we have to put the blame, blame [it on] PT. TWBI, Mangku Pastika [Bali Governor], Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Governor is getting more stubborn, deafer, muter and blame the DPRD [regional legislative council] for their silence,” he said. “We have been discussing [the issue] for four years, we have had enough of it, the Governor has lost his argument in the discussion, and has ignored people’s aspirations."

BRAM SETIAWAN