Jikalahari

Pekanbaru – Around 14 NGO’s concern to environment send their legal claim to MoF regarding to the granting of expansion permit for PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper in the area of Kampar Peninsula peat swamp forest. MoF is asked to revoke the mentioned permit and if it is ignored, 14 NGO’s who join Kampar Peninsula Rescue team will bring this issue to legal action. Those NGO’s such as The Network for Riau Forest Rescue, Jikalahari, Friends of The Earth/Walhi Riau, Greenpeace, Scale Up, LBH Pekanbaru, Kampar Peninsula Rescue Community Forum,  and Transparency International Indonesia.

 ”Expansion permit PT RAPP (Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper) in Kampar Peninsula stand against the law. We asked MoF to immediately revoke the permit. We have sent the legal claim by mail on Saturday noon,” said Suryadi, Director of LBH Pekanbaru, when he was contacted on Sunday (25/7).

 According Suryadi, based the law of area management,  like in Kampar Peninsula, it should obey to the law of  UU No 26/2007 about  Spatial Planning which being strengthened with Government Decree/PP Number  26/2008. MoF decree give permit area concession expansion in Kampar Peninsula that prove the conflict with President Decree/Keppres No 32/1990 about peat area protection. MoF decree is totally against the law.

 ”Based on the law of UU No 26/2007, Kampar Peninsula is not allowed given to industry area. The permit given in Kampar Peninsula is breaking the national law,” said Suryadi.

 In separate place, Coordinator of Kampar Peninsula Rescue Team Susanto Kurniawan said, granting permission in Kampar Peninsula is a contradiction with President SBY commitment to reduce emission of 41 percent. In fact, what happened in the field is the contrary; many protected area being cleared which resulting more emission.

 ” What MoF has done is a setback for the effort to reduce emission  which already determined by President SBY,” he said. According to Suryadi, the legal claim sent the day before (Saturday) is the second time. In the previous time, they sent formal letter by mail dated 29 June 2010. (SAH)

 Sources: Kompas, 26 July 2010