Environment Watch: Residents oppose lawsuit against road in protected forest

Hasrul , The Jakarta Post , Kendari | Fri, 06/20/2008 10:34 AM | The Archipelago

A lawsuit filed by a conservation group in South Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi, to stop construction of a road through a protected forest, has been criticized by local residents.

Residents of Laonti district said the move by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) in Kendari would leave them "isolated and disadvantaged" by denying them access to other communities in South Konawe.

"The people of Laonti object to the BKSDA's lawsuit and to the police, who intend to stop construction of a 17 kilometer section of the road which will connect Laonti and Moramo, just because it runs through a protected forest," said protester Adam Sakoeya at a recent rally in front of the BKSDA office.

"The BKSDA and Southeast Sulawesi Police apparently do not want the people of Laonti to be free from isolation, so they sue the public works office. They have gone too far. If they're determined to stop the project, the entire community in Laonti will be disadvantaged."

Istadjar, another protester, said the construction of the road had been approved in the 2007 provincial budget.

He accused the BKSDA of preventing social development by using the forest as an excuse.

"Why did the BKSDA not say anything when trees were felled or forest land sold for mining? Instead, they raise a ruckus about the road -- a road which will be of tremendous benefit to the community," he said.

"The administration is doing this out of concern for the people, and not because it wants to damage the environment."

Despite the protests, the BKSDA insisted the construction of the road through the forest was a violation of forestry laws and required approval from the Forestry Ministry.

"The South Konawe administration never consulted with the BKSDA on the proposed road, so we regard their actions as a breach of law," said Kurun, head of BKSDA's provincial office.

He added the BKSDA had issued a formal complaint to the administration, saying it had damaged a 17 kilometer section of the Labuan Peropa forest in linking Lapuko and Laonti villages.

South Konawe Regent Imran said clear-cutting of the forest to build the road had been agreed to by local communities. He said because there was no overland access to Laonti, his administration decided to build the road through the forest.

"We never intended to damage the environment, much less bypass relevant agencies. Our only desire is to build a road everyone in the community can benefit from," he said.

"Construction on the road has been going on for the past two years, so why is it being questioned now? If part of the road runs through a protected forest, the relevant agencies neglected to point it out before construction commenced."

Imran said the project would not significantly impact the forest because the road will run through a rocky area of the forest.

"We realize it's a protected forest, but the road is aimed at opening up Laonti so the residents can interact with the community in Moramo as well as the regency administration," Imran said.

"Having said that, we will request a permit from the Forestry Ministry to clear trees for the 17 kilometer section of road that runs through the forest."

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