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Activists continue fight against Jakarta Bay reclamation project
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The reclamation project activity in Jakarta Bay on Dec. 15, 2015. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
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group of activists and fishermen incorporated in the Save Jakarta Bay Coalition has to bite the bullet once again over a recent study on the environmental, social and economic impacts of the northern Jakarta land reclamation project that serves as the basis for continuing the controversial project.
During the fourth hearing at the Public Information Commission (KIP) on Monday, officials from the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry did not show up and asked for postponement in a written statement.
KIP commissioner Evy Trisulo said the ministry had asked for the hearing to be postponed as it was still in the process of gathering evidence related to the continuation of the project.
The recent study on the reclamation project was made public following different policies by former coordinating maritime affairs minister Rizal Ramli, who had decided to stop the project, and his successor, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who approved its continuation.
“We want to explain that there are different statements by Bapak Rizal Ramli and Bapak Luhut Pandjaitan related to their recommendations regarding the reclamation project […] We want detailed information on the continuation of the project,” said a researcher of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), Rayhan Dudayev, during the hearing.
The ICEL, along with the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) and the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Union (KNTI), are part of the coalition.
Rayhan added that the resumption remained questionable due to the difference in opinions, hence the coalition also proposed to get access to the study conducted by the ministry under the leadership of Rizal for comparison.
In June, Rizal said the development of Islet G of the reclamation project had to be halted due to gross violations committed by the developer, as the islet was constructed above underwater electricity cables and in the path of shipping lanes. It also was found to damage the environment.
Two months later, Luhut said there were no problems related to the project and approved the resumption of the reclamation, including Islet G.
