Indonesian Environmental Activists Protest Against Japanese Nuclear Waste Disposal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and the Indonesian Maritime Ecology (Ekomarim) carried out a cease-and-desist action in front of the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia today in Jakarta, following Japan's decision to dispose of Fukushima nuclear waste into the ocean.

PBHI and Ekomarim, part of the Advocacy Team for Anti-Toxic Waters Community or Tim Tampar brought out banners rejecting Japan's action. 

The Project Manager of PBHI, Gina Sabrina, said that her side in Tim Tampar has submitted the first cease-and-desist letter to the Japanese government regarding their nuclear waste disposal in the Pacific Ocean.

The disposal could create transboundary pollution that affects even Indonesian waters, Gina said. This could negatively impact several countries' food chains, according to Gina.

"This is the first cease-and-desist, and if in three days no response is received from Japan, we will request a lawsuit to the district court," she said during an interview after the action.

Tim Tampar noted that the nuclear waste disposal by Japan was conducted in August 2023 in three phases. "The total amount of [nuclear waste] to be disposed into the ocean, based on our data, is estimated at 1.2 million tonnes," she said, accompanied by her attorney Annisa Azzahra.

National Coordinator of Ekomarim Marthin Hardiwinata said that the cease-and-desist was conducted for several reasons. The main reason was environmental pollution and unlawful conduct. 

Marthin explained that technically, nuclear waste disposed of by Japan threatens the food chain and food cycles of humans, especially in Indonesia. Nuclear liquid waste contains a long-acting radioactive substance, tritium. The disposal could pollute the migrating fish, such as yellowfin tuna, from the Pacific Ocean entering Indonesian waters.

"From a legal perspective, Japan's action is indirectly unlawful conduct. There is an alleged neglect of cautionary principle in disposing of the waste," Marthin said.

Concerning the action by Tim Tampar, Japanese representatives failed to attend the event, citing a lack of an official announcement.

ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI

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