Controversy Siti Nurbaya Bakar: Minister Of Environment And Forestry Accused Of Supporting Forest Damage

JAKARTA - Indonesia was once known as the country with the highest rate of forest destruction in the world. This poor achievement was also recorded as a world record by The Guinness Book of World Record. Instead of being insinuated by the Indonesian government, the rate of forest destruction continues.

The era of the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government especially. Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), Siti Nurbaya Bakar is seen as having a bad mind. He views that massive development should not stop in the name of deforestation.

The government's neglect of environmental damage has become a common secret. In the name of investment, massive deforestation (forest deforestation) is legalized. As a result, think later. The pattern continues from the New Order (Orba) era.

Anyone who opposes will not get space in national politics. The fruit was obtained in 2008. World record records, The Guinness Book of World Records is leading Indonesia as the country with the fastest forest destruction rate in the world.

They noted that Indonesia could lose 1.8 million hectares of forest per year. The record is seen as bad by all Indonesian people. The Indonesian government actually considers it mediocre. The title was considered a passing wind only.

As a result, environmental damage continues. The replacement of the leader from Susilo Bambang Yudhyono (SBY) to Jokowi did not bring much change. Again, in the name of investment, Indonesian forests became victims.

The forests that are being held are not only ordinary forests, but have begun to penetrate protected forests. The Indonesian people have repeatedly protested. In fact, protests have been revealed by the international community. The Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, who in fact has the task of protecting forests, thinks heretically.

He confidently revealed that the massive development in the Jokowi era must not stop in the name of carbon emissions and deforestation. This means that Siti directly supports the full deforestation of the forest that occurs.

Something that makes the Indonesian forest damaged. As a result, environmental disasters such as floods and landslides more often threaten the Indonesian people.

"Large development in the era of President Jokowi must not stop in the name of carbon emissions or in the name of deforestation," said Siti via Twitter / X account @SitiNurbayaLHK, November 3, 2021.

Siti's statement drew criticism and criticism. Siti immediately straightened out the case of her views that supported development, even though the forest was damaged. He considered that the current era could not eliminate deforestation problems.

Siti took an example from the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Many roads were cut off because they had to pass through forest areas. As a result, according to him, development cannot stop in the name of deforestation. The people must be given equal access to development.

He considered this condition as a manifestation of the state being present in the community. Siti's view was later considered heretical thinking. There are also those who consider Siti's statement to be nothing more than a statement from a happy father (ABS). A statement is only intended so that President Jokowi is happy.

Siti's statement caused a national commotion. Siti was asked to understand her main duties as a minister. The Indonesian people then united to condemn Siti, from environmental organizations to religion. Take for example Muhammadiyah.

The mass organization in Indonesia considers that deforestation activities that occur in Indonesia have many disadvantages, rather than benefits. Forests are damaged, then biodiversity disappears. Muhammadiyah demanded Siti immediately return damaged forests to the initial ecosystem.

If this is not done, surely disaster will emerge. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) also talked. They consider Siti deforestation claims for road construction and other facilities to be nonsense. Construction for roads is considered insignificant.

The government has actually designated more forests for mining. This means that the statement of the Minister of Environment and Forestry is considered heretical. Siti is considered not to understand properly her duties as Minister of Environment and Forestry who should protect the forest and people from the threat of ecological disasters.

"The claim (forestation is carried out so that) is used for roads. We call it hidden deforestation for borrowing forest areas. This means less than 10 percent (land use for the construction of non-mining facilities)".

"The question is, maybe it's just on behalf of (development so that there are no isolated areas). In fact, the figure is bigger for mining," said Walhi National Executive Campaign Manager, Wahyu A Perdana as quoted by Lawankompas.com, November 4, 2021.