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Indonesia petitions to stop sea sand exports

JAKARTA - The proposed resumption of sea-sand exports to Malaysia and Singapore is part of a certain political party's scheme to raise funds for its 2004 general election campaign, a Philippine non-governmental organization claimed recently.

Without naming the political party concerned, Longgena Ginting, executive director of Walhi (Indonesian Forum for the Environment), said Walhi was opposed to the proposal, as the exports would damage the environment.

Ginting said Walhi had collected the signatures of some 50,000 Riau residents who also rejected the proposed reopening of sea sand exports, and would convey the petition to the government.

The petition would also be addressed to Industry and Trade Minister Rini M S Suwandi and Environment Minister Nabiel Makarim.

The two ministers were known to have expressed objections to the exports and the petition would be sent to them as a token of support for their stance on the matter.

"We reject sea sand exports no matter what its proponents say to justify it because the damage it does to the environment and the loss it causes to fishermen will be much greater than the income it generates," Ginting said.

The government should make a thorough evaluation of the benefit of sea sand exports compared to the environmental damage the country will suffer by the trade, Ginting said.

According to Walhi, the price of sea sand export at US$1.30 per cubic meter was too low compared with the natural damage it causes and the loss of fish potential that would harm fishermen.

The government should not ignore the environmental damage nor think only of the revenue from sea sand export, Ginting said.

"Public accountability has never existed here. Nor there is no public consultation on it," Ginting said, adding that natural damage caused by sea sand exploration has surpassed its limits but the government had never paid attention to it.

(Asia Pulse/Antara)

Nov 20, 2003

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