JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT RESUMES AS MORATORIUM LIFTED by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 10, 2017 (Antara) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, on Oct 5 issued a Ministerial Decree No S-78-001/02/Coordinating Minister/Maritime/X/2017 to revoke a decree on moratorium of Jakarta Bay reclamation project issued in 2016 by his predecessor, Rizal Ramli.

        Pandjaitan sent a letter informing outgoing Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat that the moratorium was officially lifted as developers had fulfilled several requirements demanded by Ramli.

        The requirements included a revision to the Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal), taking into account technical designs for power plant pipes, sedimentation mitigation, and sailing routes for traditional fishermen.

        Pandjaitan's decree was issued just 10 days before the upcoming inauguration of Jakarta Governor-elect Anies Baswedan and his deputy, Sandiaga Uno, who during their regional head elections (pilkada) campaign had promised their constituents, particularly traditional fishermen, to cancel the reclamation project. 
   Pandjaitan, however, affirmed on Oct 9 that Baswedan cannot cancel the reclamation project in Jakarta Bay, because the project was under the central government's control.

        Following the revocation of the moratorium, projects of the C, D, and G Islands in North Jakarta Coast would resume.

        He explained that he had demanded the developer to find a solution for the undersea cable network of coal-based power plants (PLTU) in Muara Karang, which were affected by the project.

        "The interest of local fishermen has also been duly taken into consideration for carrying out the reclamation project. A channel has been provided for fishermen going out to or returning from the sea. Thank God, there is no injustice committed against fishermen. This is in line with the program of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry to develop the port at Muara Baru into a modern fish market," Pandjaitan added.

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION TO BE HOT TOPIC IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 29, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia's electorate is looking forward to a very exciting and fierce gubernatorial election campaign in Jakarta as three pairs of prominent candidates joust for the Jakarta governor and deputy governor offices.

          The Jakarta regional head election (pilkada) will be organized  on February 15, 2017, simultaneously with similar local elections in 100 other regions, including six other provinces, and 76 districts across Indonesia.

        The campaign period for the 2017 pilkada will be from October 28 2016 to February 11, 2017.

         The Central Government has warned that the campaign must not touch on race, tribe or religion.

          But that would not render the campaigning boring. In fact, some observers have predicted that the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project would emerge as a hot topic, and the incumbent pair, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat, is set to rake it up as they take another shot at the office.

         Among the contestants are former education minister Anies Baswedan who has paired with a successful businessman, Sandiaga Uno; and son of former president Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and his pair former mayor Sylviana Murni. They are relatively young, non-political and considered competent.

           Indeed, Jakarta Bay reclamation project will be a hot issue for Ahok's rivals during the campaign, Executive Director of Voxpol Center, Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, recently said in Jakarta in response to questions from the media.

CONTROVERSY OVER JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT CONTINUES by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 15, 2016 (Antara) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan's statement on the resumption of G Island's reclamation, which is part of the multi-trillion rupiah Jakarta Bay reclamation project, has again triggered controversy.

         The decision to resume the G Island's reclamation has been seen contradictory to a verdict issued by the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) on May 31, 2016, that had cancelled the permit for the development of G Island among other things because of a problem concerning environmental impact assessment of the project.

         Those who are against the Jakarta Bay reclamation project believe the project could potentially damage the environment and disrupt the livelihood of local traditional farmers for the interest of property investors.

         One of serious questions often asked is from where the sand, coral and other solid materials needed for building the man-made islands in the Jakarta Bay will be sourced. Massive sand and coral mining will endanger or even make an island and several islets vanish.

         Because the Jakarta Bay project is relatively close to the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu), several environmentalists suspect the reclamation project might source sand and coral from the Thousand Islands and as a result it might lead to disappearance of several islets in the area.  

COASTAL COMMUNITY CRUCIAL FOR PROTECTING NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY by Fardah

  Jakarta, July 20, 2016 (Antara) - In an archipelagic nation, with thousands of islands scattered across the ocean, the presence of the coastal community, mainly comprising traditional fishermen, is crucial to help protect its sovereignty.

          Hence, Jakarta's traditional fishermen should be viewed as more than just underprivileged inhabitants living in slum areas in the modern capital city, as they are also the nation's assets that help guard the country's territory.

          From this perspective, the government's decision to cancel one of the reclamation projects in the Jakarta Bay area has been lauded by several parties.

          "I agree with the decision taken by the coordinating minister for maritime affairs, but I think it is not enough. The entire reclamation projects should be stopped as they threaten the People's Total Defense and Security (Hankamrata) system," Ridwan Saidi, a prominent resident from Betawi (indigenous Jakarta) community, stated at a press conference, in Jakarta, recently.

          Reclamation usually includes relocation of the local coastal inhabitants, and this is a threat to the Hankamrata system, former lawmaker Saidi noted.

          The coastal community helps to protect the national sovereignty and territory, he pointed out.

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT HAS POTENTIAL TO WIDEN SOCIAL GAP by Fardah

Jakarta, May 12, 2016 (Antara) - The pros and cons related to the implementation of the Jakarta Bay reclamation project have continued to surface, despite the government's decision to impose a moratorium on it.            Nine developers, including major private real estate and state-owned companies, had received permits to build a total of 17 islands in Jakarta Bay, with an estimated investment of Rp150 trillion, or US$11.4 billion.          Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) has frequently cited Dubai and Singapore as successful examples of reclamation work, stating that the Jakarta Bay reclamation would make the city as advanced as them. Super blocks are planned to be built on the new islands.         The reclamation of the northern coast of Jakarta is expected to transform the area into a hub for economic growth.         The Jakarta Bay reclamation project has become controversial after a bribery case concerning the mega project came to light, and demonstrations against the project were staged by the affected fishermen and the urban poor.          The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) pointed out that the project had reduced the income of the local fishermen by some 40 to 50 percent.          "Obviously, it has had a huge impact on the economy of traditional fishermen as their income has dropped by 40 to 50 percent," KNTI chief patron Chalid Muhammad remarked recently.          The reclamation project has affected some three thousand fishermen and has resulted in the eviction of 3,579 families during the 2000-2011 period.           Last April, the Jakarta authorities had given instructions to relocate some 1.7 thousand families comprising over 4.9 thousand residents of the Luar Batang area, northern Jakarta. The forced eviction has been resisted by some of the residents, mostly traditional fishermen.

MORATORIUM IMPOSED ON JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION by Fardah

Jakarta, April 25, 2016 (Antara) -  Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli announced on April 18 the government's decision to impose moratorium on Jakarta Bay reclamation till the pros and cons of the multi-billion reclamation deal are studied.

       "We request that the construction work be suspended until all requirements and legal regulations are fully met," Minister Rizal Ramli, who was accompanied by Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya and Jakarta Governor Basuki Purnama Tjahaja (Ahok), told the press.

         A special joint committee is to be formed to look into the matter, Minister Rizal Ramli said. 
     The committee will comprise senior officials from related ministries.

         They will include two director generals and two directors of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Forestry, two director generals and two directors of the Ministry of Maritime  Affairs and Fisheries, two director generals of the Home Affairs Ministry, two directors of the Maritime Affairs Coordinating Ministry, and a representative of the cabinet secretary.

         The Jakarta administration will send its deputy governor, development assistant, regional secretary, marine agency and the local government's team.

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT MIGHT MARGINALIZE URBAN POOR by Fardah

Jakarta, April 18, 2016 (Antara) - The Jakarta Bay reclamation project has become controversial after a bribery case concerning the mega project came to light, and demonstrations against the project were staged by fishermen and the urban poor affected by it.

        Calls to halt the reclamation project have been voiced by various parties, including Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, and Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, as well as by several legislators and NGO activists.

        Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), however, has insisted that the work on the US$11.4 billion-worth project will continue as it will accommodate the interests of the public and state and will not harm the environment.

        "Oh, please go ahead, if intending to stop it (the project), and a regulation should be (first) issued for it, but it should be from the president. Moreover, (the measure to) stop (the project) could be tested (challenged) in the Constitutional Court," Ahok noted in response to calls to halt the project.

       Ahok said President Joko Widodo had no objections to any reclamation project as long as it did not harm the environment.

        "I think, in principle, the president, who himself was a governor, sees nothing wrong with reclamation. All over the world, reclamation projects are being implemented. The president said the important aspect is that it should not damage the environment," Ahok remarked on April 15.
   Ahok frequently cited Dubai and Singapore as successful examples of reclamation work, and the Jakarta Bay reclamation would make the city very advanced similar to them.  

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT BELIEVED TO WORSEN ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION by Fardah

 Jakarta, April 13(Antara)- Jakarta Bay, a shallow water body located in the north of Jakarta, has been reeling under the impacts of environmental problems such as water pollution, sand and coral extraction, mangrove clearance, and sedimentation.

         The bay has been in the news again lately following the recent arrests of Jakarta's legislator Sanusi, President Director of PT Agung Podomor Land (APLN) Ariesman Widjaja, and the real estate company's employee Trinanda Prihantoro by the Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK).

         Sanusi is suspected of having received Rp2.14 billion in two stages from PT APLN in connection with discussions over regulations related to the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

        The KPK has also banned Sugianto Kusuma alias Aguan, the chairman of another major real estate developer Agung Sedayu Group, from leaving the country.

        PT Agung Sedayu, through its subsidiary PT Kapuk Naga Indah, is listed as one of the eight companies involved in the Jakarta Bay reclamation project, according to Kompas online media.