Walhi: Government Must Obey Ruling over Reclamation Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nur Hidayati, Executive Director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) called on the government to comply with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) ruling that requires the government to revoke the Jakarta Bay reclamation project permit.

In addition, Nur Hidayati urged the government to respect the strategic environmental assessment (KLHS) made to protect the environment from ecological threats posed by the reclamation project.

Nur Hidayati argued that the ruling supports the lawsuit filed by fishermen and environmental activists groups.

"The government itself must obey the law, instead of merely asking the people to comply with the law," Nur Hidayat said at her office in South Jakarta on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Nur Hidayati also called on President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to take actions against regional heads who abuse their authorities to issue permits unilaterally.

"This reflects an abuse of power," Nur Hidayati claimed.

Walhi also demanded President Jokowi to comprehensively evaluate procedures and documents related to the reclamation project. Nur Hidayati pointed out that illegal development projects have caused an increasing number of ecological disasters in Indonesia.

Earlier on Thursday, March 16, 2017, the Jakarta State Administrative Court ruled in favor of fishermen and Walhi in a lawsuit against reclamation project permits for islets F, I, and K issued by the Jakarta Governor.

INGE KLARA SAFITRI