Will Obey Court Decision Regarding Jakarta Air Pollution, Anies: We Agree With The Plaintiff

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was accused of committing unlawful acts that resulted in environmental damage and pollution, namely air pollution. (photo: doc. between)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has decided not to file an appeal against the decision of the Central Jakarta District Court regarding the air pollution lawsuit.

In this case, the Panel of Judges of the Central Jakarta District Court decided that the Republic of Indonesia, represented by President Joko Widodo and the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan, committed an unlawful act that resulted in environmental damage and pollution, namely air pollution.

Anies said he did not file an appeal because the Central Jakarta District Court's decision was in line with his commitment to be responsible for improving air quality.

"We agree with the plaintiffs. We take responsibility by trying to implement what is being sued," Anies said in his statement, Saturday, September 18.

However, Anies said that efforts to control air quality are a joint effort. Not only the DKI Provincial Government, the community is asked to start efforts to improve air quality in their daily activities.

"We also invite the public to take responsibility in controlling this air quality. For example, monitor the exhaust, check the emissions, then, avoid burning garbage in the open. Then, use more public transportation, use vehicles that emit as few emissions as possible. Even if you can use vehicles that do not emit emissions, such as bicycles, "explained Anies.

For information, on July 4, 2019, 32 Indonesians, including Melanie Soebono, Elisa Sutanudjaja, Tubagus Soleh Ahmadi, Nur Hidayati, Adhito Harinugroho, Asfinawati, and dozens of others sued a number of authorities for violations of human rights. A series of authorities are considered negligent in fulfilling the right to a good and healthy environment.

Represented by a legal advisor, Arif Maulana, the community group sued President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as Defendant I. Apart from Jokowi, there are Defendants II, namely Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar; Defendant III Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian; Defendant IV Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin; and Defendant V, namely the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan; Banten Governor Wahidin Halim; and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.

On September 16, the Panel of Judges of the Central Jakarta District Court decided that the state had committed an unlawful act that resulted in environmental damage and pollution.

"To try, grant the plaintiff's claim in part. To declare that Defendant I, Defendant II, Defendant III, Defendant IV, and Defendant V have committed acts against the law," said Chief Justice Saifuddin Zuhri in his decision.

To Anies, the plaintiff sued 14 matters related to air quality to the DKI Provincial Government. The lawsuits include carrying out emission tests and evaluating them on a regular basis, tightening emission quality standards and imposing sanctions for businesses and/or activities of fixed air pollutant sources (STB) operating in Jakarta.

Then, sanction the act of burning waste that is immediately imposed since the violation of obligations is carried out, adding an air quality monitoring station (SPKU), to formulating a Strategy and Action Plan for Air Pollution Recovery, including a moratorium on development plans that have the potential to emit significant emissions such as the Intermediate Treatment plan. Facility (ITF) and plans for the construction of 6 (six) toll roads.

From the lawsuit, an agreement has been reached on all matters. However, there are two things that have not been reached by agreement between the two parties, especially those related to the construction of the Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) and the construction of six toll roads.