IKN Authority Claims IKN Development will Benefit Many

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) Bambang Susantono celebrated Eid Al Fitr at the Nusantara Capital area, in East Kalimantan.

"I am very happy, I am glad to be with the people to celebrate Eid prayer here, and I am motivated to improve our faith," Bambang said in a written statement on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Bambang also expressed his hopes for the local residents to work together in developing IKN. Bambang asserted that the development of IKN will bring benefits to everyone.

Despite Bambang’s optimisim, the development of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) has faced criticism since the beginning of the project. One of the issues raised is the lack of public participation in discussions regarding the development plans for IKN.

Furthermore, in its implementation, IKN has drawn public attention due to numerous issues. Even the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) questioned alleged human rights violations against nine farmers in Penajam Paser Utara Regency who opposed the construction of Naratetama Airport in the IKN area. These farmers were forcibly arrested and even had their heads shaved by the police.

Moreover, the development of IKN has also been scrutinized by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA captured images showing changes in forest areas in Kalimantan after the construction of IKN. Based on the images taken in February 2024, forest areas that were once green in April 2022 appeared to be increasingly eroded.

Rio Rompas, a Campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia, stated that the forest destruction is more extensive than what was revealed by NASA. According to Rio, the green forest released by NASA's satellite imagery is actually a eucalyptus plantation forest. The natural forest in the IKN core area had already disappeared previously, replaced by industrial plantation forests. Rio mentioned that it was the opened forest areas that were visible in NASA's satellite photos.

"However, we see that the threat of deforestation not only exists in the IKN core area but also in the IKN expansion area. We found that there are still about 31,000 hectares, roughly half the size of Jakarta, which are at risk of disappearing due to the development of IKN," he told Tempo on Monday, March 4, 2024.

This means that in addition to the threat to the 31,000 hectares of natural forest in the IKN and its expansion area, there is also the looming threat to around 23 critically endangered species. These species have been categorized as habitats and wildlife facing extinction.

RIRI RAHAYU

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