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Banned Dutch researcher warns of dwindling scientific freedom in RI

A Dutch scientist who is among a group of researchers reportedly banned from conducting research in Indonesia by the Environment and Forestry Ministry for their critical writings says he is concerned about the state of scientific freedom in the country.

Fikri Harish (The Jakarta Post)
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Jakarta
Thu, September 22, 2022

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Banned Dutch researcher warns of dwindling scientific freedom in RI Family time: A Borneo orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) plays with her baby at Prigen Safari Park in the East Java regency of Pasuruan on Aug. 12, 2020. (Antara/Umarul Faruq)

A Dutch scientist who is among a group of researchers reportedly banned from conducting research in Indonesia by the Environment and Forestry Ministry for their critical writings says he is concerned about the state of scientific freedom in the country.

In a letter dated Sept. 14, the ministry expresses its concerns about published articles on Indonesian wildlife by Erik Meijaard and four other scientists — Julie Sherman, Marc Ancrenaz, Hjalmar Kuhl and Serge Wich, which it said could “discredit the government and the Environment and Forestry Ministry”.

The letter thus orders national parks and natural resource conservation agencies (KSDA) to “withhold permission or approval from the five researchers in any conservation efforts done within the scope of the Environment and Forestry Ministry” and “refuse requests for cooperation with the ministry from the five researchers”.

Meijaard said that he was not notified about the ban by the ministry, though he was aware that the letter had been sent to various government bodies and NGOs.

“We contacted the [Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya] yesterday asking for clarification as to why we are banned from going to Indonesian protected areas, but we haven't had a reply yet,” he told The Jakarta Post in an email interview.

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As of Wednesday, the ministry had yet to respond to requests for comments on the letter in question. But the Komodo National Park confirmed to the Post that it had received it.

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