Iwan Fals Calls For Stop Development Of Forests For 50 Years

King of Parlindungan Pane and Iwan Fals (Ist)

JAKARTA - Lagendaris singer Iwan Fals expressed his concern and condolences for the casualties that were taken due to flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), and West Sumatra (West Sumatra).

He considered nature cannot be blamed alone. This flash flood was triggered by illegal logging by an irresponsible number of people. This was conveyed by Iwan Fals when asked for his opinion about the flash floods that befell Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 10.

The owner of the real name Virgiawan Listanto said the government must take firm action against companies and individuals involved in illegal logging.

"He said our country is a state of law. Yes, enforce the law as strictly as possible. The law is the maximum of the perpetrators. Don't be indiscriminate. Without that, the incident will continue to repeat itself," said the musician who loves the environment in an official statement received by VOI, December 12.

Iwan Fals has long voiced this issue even in musical works. On the album Bachelor of Youth, Iwan created a song entitled Filling Rimba No Place to Stand anymore. The song tells the story of deforestation. In the song, Iwan advised the government that preserving the forest was just a joke.

Rimba yang dulu kuat, kini tinggal cerita. Bencana erosion selalu datang menghantui. Tanah kering-kerintang banjir datang itu pasti. Isi jontaman tak ada tempat berpijak lagi. Punah dengan sendirinya akibat mampu manusia.

Iwan conveyed that message in 1980. That means it was 45 years ago. Now, what Iwan is worried about really happened to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

According to the singer who always planted trees before the show, currently the government must work with the community to restore conditions in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Must work together to restore the situation.

For those affected by the flood - as citizens - - they must receive help from the government. "Anyone please help. However, the presence of the government is very much needed. Flood victims must also get a proper place to live or residence. This is very much needed for their survival," said Iwan Fals.

After that, said Iwan, there must be an agreement that trees should no longer be cut down anywhere in Indonesia for the next 50 years. In fact, if it takes 100 years. If this is not done, Iwan is worried that a larger flash flood could happen again.

When asked about the law regarding logging, Iwan thought that of course there were rules. However, many do not obey the rules. However, Iwan still advised the House of Representatives to re-evaluate the law.

"The law must be firm and applied indiscriminately," said Iwan, who once composed the Tanam-Tanam song, let's plant trees. "Yes, let's plant trees, with typical types of trees in their respective regions," continued Iwan.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of the National Journalists Forum Raja Parlindungan Pane said that there needs to be an agency formed by the government to restore post-flood conditions. This agency will work quickly and precisely to restore the economy, education, social, and of course for infrastructure development that has been destroyed by floods.

The king is of the opinion that handling large-scale disasters on the island of Sumatra requires special agencies that focus on handling rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

"President Prabowo needs to form the Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency," said Raja Pane, urging the government.