Disagree With Work Creation Law, Walhi Rejects DPR Meeting Invitation On Forest Area

DPR/Irfan Meidianto (VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has refused an invitation to a public hearing (RDPU) with Commission IV of the Indonesian Parliament on the use and release of forest areas.

Today, Commission VI of the House of Representatives invited Walhi to provide advice on the use and release of forest areas, as well as drafting regulations derived from Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation related to the environment.

Chairman of Commission IV DPR RI Sudin explained the reason for WALHI being absent from the invitation that was given. Walhi was said to be absent because he did not agree with the ratification of the Job Creation Law.

"Walhi refuses to come because of the Job Creation Law imposed by the president," said Sudin when opening a meeting at the DPR building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, November 12.

Separately, Walhi made a written statement about the absence of this environmental organization in the RDPU at the DPR RI. The Executive Director of Walhi, Nur Hidayati, explained that there were three reasons for his party rejecting the RDPU discussion regarding the use and release of forest areas.

First, the work copyright law "bleaches" corporate crimes, by allowing extractive industries such as plantations and mining to go wild in forest areas.

"Instead of regulating law enforcement, they are given time to complete the administration for up to 3 years," said Nur.

Second, the affirmative article on forest area protection is actually abolished in the Job Creation Law, so that the minimum forest area limit of 30 percent in one area is removed.

Third, he continued, there is the potential for corporate crime, especially in forest areas.

"The article of absolute responsibility in Article 88 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Management was castrated, the editorial was changed so that it is no longer a conception of absolute responsibility in law enforcement of corporate crimes in environmental crimes," he explained.