TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) argued that the Job Creation Omnibus Law is the government’s open support for investors. It is also feared that the contents of the new policy violate human rights.

“Investors are granted with a red carpet to continue running their operations,” said the Walhi Executive Director, Nur Hidayati, in a virtual discussion about the state protection for environmental and human rights defenders on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

According to Hidayati, the new law perpetuates oligarchic and corporate practices. These are evident from corporate impunity for legal violations related to the environment.

“In the Job Creation Law, investors have the potential to not be prosecuted legally, or even, the crimes can be forgiven,” she said.

Additionally, the law limits public participation in the decision-making process which includes the environmental impact analysis (Amdal), consultation in the spatial planning process, and others.

Hidayati opined that the state and its officials prioritize economic interests represented by corporations, extractive industries, and other projects considered to advance the nation. “Such as infrastructure projects and national strategic projects,” she added.

The Job Creation Omnibus Law has long drawn strong protests from students, legal experts, workers, and civil organizations in various regions. The polemic reached its peak after the House of Representatives (DPR) suddenly enacted it into law on October 5, 2020.

Read: Deforestation in Aceh may Reach 35,000 Hectare: Walhi

IHSAN RELIUBUN