Investigate Forestry Ministry

Jakarta, Indonesia — Greenpeace urged the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) to investigate the re-issuance of permits to 14 companies for clearing more than 100.000 hectares of forest by the Forestry Ministry.
"Many of these 14 companies were under investigation for illegal logging in 2007. While one of the Bupatis who aided and abetted the illegal operations is in jail, the investigation against the companies was mysteriously stopped by police in December last year. Now, in an election year, these same companies have been given approval for further logging by Forestry Minister MS Kaban and against the wishes of the regional government. " said Zulfahmi, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner.

In a street theatre protest at the KPK’s Jakarta HQ this morning, Greenpeace role-played MS Kaban's surrender with an activist wearing an MS Kaban mask. Besides Kaban, Greenpeace also ‘surrendered’ Governor of Riau, Rusli Zainal. Meanwhile activists posing as the ‘President’ and ‘Vice President’ stood by and watched.

According to reports, Minister Kaban issued the Rencana Kerja Tahunan (RKT - yearly work plan) last week giving 14 companies, predominantly owned by APP (Sinar Mas group) and April, permission to cut 100.000 hectares of forest for the pulp and paper industry.

"The forests in Riau are under enormous pressure from the palm and pulp and paper industries and this approval of the RKT by Kaban is a death toll for a large proportion of the last remaining forest. Considering most of these forests are in carbon-rich peatland, this approval will also increase Indonesia's greenhouse emissions from deforestation," Zulfahmi added.

The granting of the cutting permits contravenes President Yudhoyono's international commitment at the 2008 G8 meeting in Japan, to cut Indonesia's greenhouse emissions from deforestation by 50 percent in 2009 and 75 percent\ in 2012.

"SBY's commitment at the G8, and his repeated statements on forest protection and green house gas reduction targets in international for a, have become a bit of a joke since he has allowed his government to actively increase Indonesia's emissions through their policies on peatland and allowing further logging and forest conversion. Stop watching and start acting Mr. President. Reduce emissions and implement a moratorium prior to attending the important climate meeting in Copenhagen in December this year," urged Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner.

( from : greenpeace.org )

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Water Pollutions

Bangkok, THAILAND — Greenpeace released a shocking report which reveals that 92.68 percent of the total area in Thailand is at risk from water pollution. Within these risk areas, 6.87 percent is classified as ‘high risk’ and could impact approximately 4,440,049 Thai citizens if corrective action is not taken immediately. The “Water pollution risk areas of Thailand” report commissioned by Greenpeace Southeast Asia, integrates environmental investigations and GIS technology to project what areas and water sources in Thailand are at risk of water pollution [1]. The report ranked 5 provinces of Bangkok, Samutprakarn, Samutsakorn, Chonburi and Rayong respectively as high risk water pollution areas.
“The unabated and unplanned expansions of industrial activities, increased use of chemicals in agriculture and population density are identified as the major factors causing water pollution [2]. Most of the high risk areas were found in highly industrialized and urbanized areas. Although their total areas are relatively small, but given the high density of population they will suffer the worst impacts,” said Ply Pirom, Toxics Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The Report categorizes water pollution risk areas into 4 levels; high risk, medium risk, low risk and no risk. According to the findings, the eastern part of Thailand has the highest proportion of area at high risk level (35.64 percent of its total area), followed by Central part of Thailand (15.89 percent of its total area).

Additionally the report identifies that more than 99 percent of villages that are located near water source are also at risk of water pollution. 41.64 percent of these are considered to be at high risk levels. These areas have a population density of approximately 4,440,049 people.

Figures provided in the report also show that Rayong has 97.78 percent of its total area and 302 villages or 78.44 percent of the total villages are located near the water sources that have high risk of water pollution. Therefore, the call for Pollution Control Zone for industrial areas in the province, i.e. Maptaput, makes sense and should be implemented swiftly and with utmost sincerity.

The report also reveals that 7 rivers in Central part, 8 rivers in the Eastern part, 14 rivers and 2 backwaters in the northern part, 14 rivers and 5 backwaters in the northeastern part are at high risk of water pollution, while some have never been polluted before.

“All the water bodies identified in the report are of high socio-economic and cultural significance for Thai people. We urge government to take aggressive action to combat the growing threats to the country's water resources. We have the least amount of fresh water resources available per capita in Southeast Asia. It is important that we do our best to protect our limited water resources from pollution” Ply added.

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