INTERVIEW - Environmental watchdog to be empowered
Interview with State Minister of Environmental Affairs Sonny Keraf
Monday, October 16 2000 - 03:30 AM WIB
Q: How about the idea on the plan to set up a commission on environmental affairs as reported in Kompas daily lately?
A: The report in Kompas is bit misinterpreted. What we want to establish is a commission on environmental impact as stated in the government regulation No: 27/99, which began effective in November 7. Under the regulation, the commission will function as a one-roof commission and is solely under the supervision of the Environmental Impact Management Board (Bapedal). The commission will cover all the activities related to the handling of the environmental problem.
The commission will comprise representatives of all segments of related institutions such NGOs, experts, universities, especially from the department of environment, informal leaders and representatives of the people (living near industrial or mining operations).
Q: How about the power of the commission?
A: The commission will have the power to approve or reject the environmental impact management analyses (Amdal) proposed (by industrial or mining companies). If the Amdal is rejected, the concerned company should not be given a permit. So, all the related government agencies should listen to me. All the process of Amdal will be disclosed so that all the people will be well informed about the plan. This process is in line with the regulation No: 8/2000 issued by the chairman of Bapedal that contains the participation of the people and the information disclosure in dealing with environmental issues. The people will know if an Amdal of a company is rejected, the company will not be given a permit. So, if an agency issues a permit to a company whose Amdal is rejected, the people will get angry.
Q. How about the mechanism to ensure that a company complies with its Amdal?
A. There will be RKL/RPL (Environmental Management Plan/Environmental Monitoring Plan) that should be periodically reported to Bapedal especially those related to environmental performances. We will then carry out an onsite inspection to assess the validity of the reports. The inspection will be carried out by an environmental inspectorate that will act as a policeman in the environmental sector. If there is a need to take a sample, the sample should be tested in a laboratory to find out if a company has violated the environmental regulation, or not.
With all this process, a company will have a certainty related to their environmental performance. If a company has been awarded a permit, it should also abide the regulation. If all parties follow the procedures, there will be no protests or demonstrations to take place.
Q. How do you solve the ongoing environmental dispute such as those taking place between the local people and Newmont?
A. There is a standard mechanism to handle the problem that is through the regulation PP 54.2000. This regulation offers an alternative resolution. So if there is an environmental dispute, you can solve it either through a court or negotiation.
Q. Is it working now?
A. The institution (which will mediate the negotiations) has not yet been formed because the government regulation on the matter will become effective only a year after its issuance. So, the institution will be established next year. This year we are preparing the institution and all the necessary mechanism to handle such a problem. We have in fact used this mechanism in handling several disputes taking place between the local residents and companies. The main idea is that we want the company and the protesting residents to sit together and solve their problem amicably. (alex)