R

egarding the article on the front page of The Sunday Post, 'Global calls to save Aceh forest', there is a breakdown of understanding about what the central government can do and the jurisdiction of the regional government, especially Aceh with its special status.

There is already a national direction from the central government in the form of a forest moratorium which the President extended.

The protest should be directed to the regional government of Aceh itself. It is the Aceh administration who wants to open protected forests for commercial exploitation. And if the protest is by the Acehnese themselves it would be even more powerful. Why would Aceh administration pay attention to voices from
Jakarta? They have the sole power to develop their own region and choose how best it should be done.

If we think the plan is contrary to Acehnese welfare then we need to address the complaints to the regional administration and show their incompetence, greed, etc.

Jaya Ibrahim
Jakarta