Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA3314
2006-03-15 06:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006
how-toVZCZCXRO8951 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #3314/01 0740646 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150646Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1073 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9200 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3325 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9685 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3617 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 3146
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 003314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/IET, OES/IET, AND OES/ETC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO EIND ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 003314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/IET, OES/IET, AND OES/ETC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO EIND ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006
1. Summary: The Rhino Conservation Program and the GOI co-
hosted an "Indonesian Rhino Conservation Strategy Meeting"
on February 26-27 to discuss strategies for conserving the
Sumatran and Javan rhinos. The National Agency for Drug and
Food Control's (BPOM) December 2005 discovery of
formaldahyde in foods triggered a wave of public concern.
On January 17-18, the Ministry of Forestry (MOF) held a
consultation forum on illegal logging and the illegal timber
trade. Indonesian and foreign companies continue to eye
investments in Indonesia's pulp and paper industries,
although questions persist about the sustainability of wood
supply. On January 4, Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban
appointed a first group of about 400 MOF officers to a new
"Quick Response Special Unit" (SPORC) designed to combat
illegal logging. The Jakarta city government began
enforcing emission tests for cars on February 4, but
compliance levels appear low. On December 30, 2005, the
Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) issued a
report showing that pollution levels in the city's 13 rivers
continue to rise. The GOI and the Government of the
Netherlands announced that they would cooperate on bio-
molecular research during the January 11 visit of Dutch
Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences Maria JA van der
Hoeven. End Summary.
Indonesian Rhino Conservation
--------------
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Biologist Fred
Bagley visited Jakarta February 27-28 to attend an
"Indonesian Rhino Conservation Strategy Meeting" and a
meeting of the Global Propagation and Management Board for
Sumatran Rhino. Participants reached several conclusions
regarding the conservation of the Sumatran and Javan rhinos,
including: a) conducting more frequent censuses of these
endangered animals; b) establishing more frequent anti-
poaching patrols; c) increasing local input in the
conservation agenda; and d) creating more habitats for
rhinos. The U.S. Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund
(RCTF) has provided several grants for Sumatran and Javan
rhino conservation that aim to help Indonesia integrate
efforts to conserve its rhino wild population.
Formaldahyde Levels in Food Cause Concern
--------------
3. On December 29, 2005 the National Agency for Drug and
Food Control (BPOM) issued a report stating that several
favorite Indonesian food items contained formaldehyde,
borax, and textile coloring. BPOM said that its
investigation revealed that fresh noodles, preserved fish,
and tofu contained high levels of formaldehyde, and that
meatballs and green mussel contained textile dye and borax.
BPOM said it conducted its investigation in 26 cities in
December 2005, with follow up investigations continuing into
January 2006. Law 8/1999 on Consumer Protection calls for
fines of Rupiah 2 billion (USD 2.2 million) and a maximum of
5 years in jail for misusing formaldehyde. Tofu, salted
fish, fresh noodles, and meatballs are staple foods for most
Indonesians so the BPOM triggered high levels of public
concern.
4. BPOM Chairman Sampurno admitted that releasing the
investigation to the public had caused a 50 percent drop in
sales of tofu, beef balls, salted fishes, and fresh noodles.
In a January 14 re-release of its report, BPOM revealed that
14 cities and districts, including Jakarta, Bandung and
Yogyakarta were free of formaldehyde. Five cities and
districts continue to see frequent use formaldehyde in
foods, according to the BPOM: Pekanbaru-Riau, Lampung,
Denpasar-Bali, Mataram-West Nusa Tenggara, and Palangkaraya-
Central Kalimantan. However, in one recent poll of North
Jakarta fishermen, 80 percent of the respondents admitted to
using formaldehyde to preserve their catch for up to three
weeks, and some observers believe this practice is common in
other regions of Indonesia. Some food vendors have also
stated that they have no choice but to use formaldehyde if
they want to stay in business, prompting additional public
concern. GOI officials have insisted that they have the
situation under control and have encouraged people to
consume foods as normal.
GOI holds Forum on Illegal Logging and Timber Trade
-------------- --------------
JAKARTA 00003314 002 OF 003
5. Representatives from a dozen countries or international
organizations and twenty four Indonesian diplomatic missions
abroad attended a January 17-18 "Consultation Forum" in
Yogyakarta on combating illegal logging and the illicit
timber trade. The MOF organized the event with sponsorship
by the United Kingdom's Department for International
Development (DFID). Senior GOI officials, including
Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban, Chief of the Criminal and
Investigation Department of the Indonesian National Police,
Makbul Padmanegara, Deputy Attorney General for General
Crimes Prasetyo, and Director General for Forest Protection
and Nature Conservation at the MOF Arman Mallolongan briefed
attendees on the GOI's ongoing efforts to combat illegal
logging and illicit trade in timber. Participants agreed
that the forum had been a useful venue for the GOI to seek
cooperation with international partners on combating illegal
logging and the illicit timber trade.
Investor Interest in Pulp and Paper Sector
--------------
6. Minister of Forestry Kaban told the press on January 13
that many investors remain interested in investing in
Indonesia's pulp and paper sector. He added that a group of
investors from India and Malaysia had proposed developing a
USD 1.3 billion integrated pulp and paper plant in West or
Central Kalimantan in 2005.
7. Although Kaban welcomed investor interest in the sector,
local environmental NGOs expressed concern about the
possible negative impact on Indonesia's forests. The
environmental NGO Greenomics Indonesia claimed that
approximately 200,000 hectares of natural forests vanish
each year to provide raw materials for the pulp and paper
industry. Greenomics claimed that two large pulp and paper
manufactures in Riau, PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP)
and PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) continue to obtain
up to 50 percent of their raw material from natural forests.
Greenomics added that in the past two years, the two
companies had consumed 7-8 million cubic meters of wood by
clearing natural forests. However, RAPP denied the
allegations and Environmental Affairs Manager Canesio P.
Munoz stated that his company uses degraded forests rather
than natural forests for raw materials. He added that since
1995, RAPP has donated USD 7 million for conservation
programs in Indonesia and has replanted more than 115,000
hectares of industrial forests since 2004. Asia Pulp & Paper
(APP),the parent company of IKPP, has denied similar
allegations in the past by NGOs and has also donated funds
to conservation causes.
Special Unit to Combat Illegal Logging
--------------
8. On January 4, Minister of Forestry Kaban appointed a
first group of 399 MOF officers to staff a new "Quick
Response Special Unit" (SPORC) designed to combat illegal
logging. After their appointment, the SPORC members
attended a five-week training course at a police training
school in Sukabumi, West Java. The MOF plans to hire a
total of 1,500 SPORC personnel within 5 years. The SPORC
program is part of the MOF's efforts to implement
Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2005 on illegal logging.
The SPORC is charged with intensifying the fight against
illegal logging and strengthening forest management polices.
According the MOF, 60 million hectares of Indonesia's
forests have been degraded, with the rate of deforestation
at about 2.8 million hectares annually. The Ministry
estimates the annual economic loss to Indonesia from forest
degradation at Rp 30 trillion (USD 3.3 billion).
Jakarta Begins Emission Tests
--------------
9. On February 4, the Jakarta Environmental Management
Agency (BPLHD) began enforcing emission tests for all
registered vehicles. This measure implements local
government law (PERDA) No. 2 of 2005, and requires
automobile owners to have vehicle emissions tested at the
time of purchase or when motor vehicle licenses are up for
renewal. In implementing this new law, the Jakarta
administration faces several obstacles, including a very
limited number of repair shops and competent technicians.
The government has designated 115 auto repair shops to
conduct the tests, with 80 already certified. The repair
JAKARTA 00003314 003.2 OF 003
shops charge around Rupiah 30,000 - 50,000 (USD 3 - 5) for
each test. Meanwhile, the Head of East Jakarta Regional
Environmental Agency Surya Darma stated that the Jakarta
administration will not begin to apply the new law to
motorcycles until it completes operational regulations.
According to the 2005 data from the Jakarta metropolitan
police, Jakarta has 2.5 million motorcycles, 1.3 million
cars, 400,000 cargo vehicles, and more than 250,000 buses.
Pollution Worsens in Jakarta's Rivers
--------------
10. On December 30, 2005 the BPLHD issued a report showing
that pollution levels in Jakarta's 13 rivers continue to
rise. BPLHD drew samples from more than 50 monitoring posts
in the 13 rivers, and the results showed an increase of 1-9
percent in pollution levels. BPLHD measured salinity,
turbidity, suspended particles, and diluted hazardous
particles (nitrate, nitrite, chloride, ammonia, phosphate,
etc.) to assess pollution levels. Controlling pollution
levels in Jakarta's rivers is difficult given that
watersheds for the rivers fall under the jurisdiction of 14
separate municipalities and national agencies.
Environmentalists blame a reported lack of coordination
between the various stakeholders for the increasingly high
pollution in the city's rivers. Jakarta officials have
acknowledged that high pollution levels in the city's rivers
threaten marine ecosystems in the Jakarta Bay. Recent media
reports have highlighted several large fish kills in the
Jakarta Bay area.
The GOI pushes Bio-molecular Research
--------------
11. Special Advisor to the Minister of Research and
Technology Dr. Amin Subandrio announced on January 11 that
Indonesia and the Netherlands would cooperate in bimolecular
research on TB, Hepatitis B, and other tropical diseases,
including avian influenza. The announcement came during the
visit to Jakarta of Netherlands Minister of Education,
Culture and Sciences H.E. Maria JA van der Hoeven.
Subandrio added that the Netherlands wants to collaborate
with the Eijkman Molecular Institute in pursuing
epidemiological and molecular hepatitis studies in Batam.
Indonesia and the Netherlands have in the past undertaken
similar cooperation in Nias and Papua, and have established
a sister institute relationship between the Eijkman
Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta and the Eijkman-
Winkler Institute in Utrecht, the Netherlands, to conduct
infectious diseases research.
Pascoe
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/IET, OES/IET, AND OES/ETC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO EIND ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006
1. Summary: The Rhino Conservation Program and the GOI co-
hosted an "Indonesian Rhino Conservation Strategy Meeting"
on February 26-27 to discuss strategies for conserving the
Sumatran and Javan rhinos. The National Agency for Drug and
Food Control's (BPOM) December 2005 discovery of
formaldahyde in foods triggered a wave of public concern.
On January 17-18, the Ministry of Forestry (MOF) held a
consultation forum on illegal logging and the illegal timber
trade. Indonesian and foreign companies continue to eye
investments in Indonesia's pulp and paper industries,
although questions persist about the sustainability of wood
supply. On January 4, Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban
appointed a first group of about 400 MOF officers to a new
"Quick Response Special Unit" (SPORC) designed to combat
illegal logging. The Jakarta city government began
enforcing emission tests for cars on February 4, but
compliance levels appear low. On December 30, 2005, the
Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) issued a
report showing that pollution levels in the city's 13 rivers
continue to rise. The GOI and the Government of the
Netherlands announced that they would cooperate on bio-
molecular research during the January 11 visit of Dutch
Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences Maria JA van der
Hoeven. End Summary.
Indonesian Rhino Conservation
--------------
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Biologist Fred
Bagley visited Jakarta February 27-28 to attend an
"Indonesian Rhino Conservation Strategy Meeting" and a
meeting of the Global Propagation and Management Board for
Sumatran Rhino. Participants reached several conclusions
regarding the conservation of the Sumatran and Javan rhinos,
including: a) conducting more frequent censuses of these
endangered animals; b) establishing more frequent anti-
poaching patrols; c) increasing local input in the
conservation agenda; and d) creating more habitats for
rhinos. The U.S. Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund
(RCTF) has provided several grants for Sumatran and Javan
rhino conservation that aim to help Indonesia integrate
efforts to conserve its rhino wild population.
Formaldahyde Levels in Food Cause Concern
--------------
3. On December 29, 2005 the National Agency for Drug and
Food Control (BPOM) issued a report stating that several
favorite Indonesian food items contained formaldehyde,
borax, and textile coloring. BPOM said that its
investigation revealed that fresh noodles, preserved fish,
and tofu contained high levels of formaldehyde, and that
meatballs and green mussel contained textile dye and borax.
BPOM said it conducted its investigation in 26 cities in
December 2005, with follow up investigations continuing into
January 2006. Law 8/1999 on Consumer Protection calls for
fines of Rupiah 2 billion (USD 2.2 million) and a maximum of
5 years in jail for misusing formaldehyde. Tofu, salted
fish, fresh noodles, and meatballs are staple foods for most
Indonesians so the BPOM triggered high levels of public
concern.
4. BPOM Chairman Sampurno admitted that releasing the
investigation to the public had caused a 50 percent drop in
sales of tofu, beef balls, salted fishes, and fresh noodles.
In a January 14 re-release of its report, BPOM revealed that
14 cities and districts, including Jakarta, Bandung and
Yogyakarta were free of formaldehyde. Five cities and
districts continue to see frequent use formaldehyde in
foods, according to the BPOM: Pekanbaru-Riau, Lampung,
Denpasar-Bali, Mataram-West Nusa Tenggara, and Palangkaraya-
Central Kalimantan. However, in one recent poll of North
Jakarta fishermen, 80 percent of the respondents admitted to
using formaldehyde to preserve their catch for up to three
weeks, and some observers believe this practice is common in
other regions of Indonesia. Some food vendors have also
stated that they have no choice but to use formaldehyde if
they want to stay in business, prompting additional public
concern. GOI officials have insisted that they have the
situation under control and have encouraged people to
consume foods as normal.
GOI holds Forum on Illegal Logging and Timber Trade
-------------- --------------
JAKARTA 00003314 002 OF 003
5. Representatives from a dozen countries or international
organizations and twenty four Indonesian diplomatic missions
abroad attended a January 17-18 "Consultation Forum" in
Yogyakarta on combating illegal logging and the illicit
timber trade. The MOF organized the event with sponsorship
by the United Kingdom's Department for International
Development (DFID). Senior GOI officials, including
Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban, Chief of the Criminal and
Investigation Department of the Indonesian National Police,
Makbul Padmanegara, Deputy Attorney General for General
Crimes Prasetyo, and Director General for Forest Protection
and Nature Conservation at the MOF Arman Mallolongan briefed
attendees on the GOI's ongoing efforts to combat illegal
logging and illicit trade in timber. Participants agreed
that the forum had been a useful venue for the GOI to seek
cooperation with international partners on combating illegal
logging and the illicit timber trade.
Investor Interest in Pulp and Paper Sector
--------------
6. Minister of Forestry Kaban told the press on January 13
that many investors remain interested in investing in
Indonesia's pulp and paper sector. He added that a group of
investors from India and Malaysia had proposed developing a
USD 1.3 billion integrated pulp and paper plant in West or
Central Kalimantan in 2005.
7. Although Kaban welcomed investor interest in the sector,
local environmental NGOs expressed concern about the
possible negative impact on Indonesia's forests. The
environmental NGO Greenomics Indonesia claimed that
approximately 200,000 hectares of natural forests vanish
each year to provide raw materials for the pulp and paper
industry. Greenomics claimed that two large pulp and paper
manufactures in Riau, PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP)
and PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) continue to obtain
up to 50 percent of their raw material from natural forests.
Greenomics added that in the past two years, the two
companies had consumed 7-8 million cubic meters of wood by
clearing natural forests. However, RAPP denied the
allegations and Environmental Affairs Manager Canesio P.
Munoz stated that his company uses degraded forests rather
than natural forests for raw materials. He added that since
1995, RAPP has donated USD 7 million for conservation
programs in Indonesia and has replanted more than 115,000
hectares of industrial forests since 2004. Asia Pulp & Paper
(APP),the parent company of IKPP, has denied similar
allegations in the past by NGOs and has also donated funds
to conservation causes.
Special Unit to Combat Illegal Logging
--------------
8. On January 4, Minister of Forestry Kaban appointed a
first group of 399 MOF officers to staff a new "Quick
Response Special Unit" (SPORC) designed to combat illegal
logging. After their appointment, the SPORC members
attended a five-week training course at a police training
school in Sukabumi, West Java. The MOF plans to hire a
total of 1,500 SPORC personnel within 5 years. The SPORC
program is part of the MOF's efforts to implement
Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2005 on illegal logging.
The SPORC is charged with intensifying the fight against
illegal logging and strengthening forest management polices.
According the MOF, 60 million hectares of Indonesia's
forests have been degraded, with the rate of deforestation
at about 2.8 million hectares annually. The Ministry
estimates the annual economic loss to Indonesia from forest
degradation at Rp 30 trillion (USD 3.3 billion).
Jakarta Begins Emission Tests
--------------
9. On February 4, the Jakarta Environmental Management
Agency (BPLHD) began enforcing emission tests for all
registered vehicles. This measure implements local
government law (PERDA) No. 2 of 2005, and requires
automobile owners to have vehicle emissions tested at the
time of purchase or when motor vehicle licenses are up for
renewal. In implementing this new law, the Jakarta
administration faces several obstacles, including a very
limited number of repair shops and competent technicians.
The government has designated 115 auto repair shops to
conduct the tests, with 80 already certified. The repair
JAKARTA 00003314 003.2 OF 003
shops charge around Rupiah 30,000 - 50,000 (USD 3 - 5) for
each test. Meanwhile, the Head of East Jakarta Regional
Environmental Agency Surya Darma stated that the Jakarta
administration will not begin to apply the new law to
motorcycles until it completes operational regulations.
According to the 2005 data from the Jakarta metropolitan
police, Jakarta has 2.5 million motorcycles, 1.3 million
cars, 400,000 cargo vehicles, and more than 250,000 buses.
Pollution Worsens in Jakarta's Rivers
--------------
10. On December 30, 2005 the BPLHD issued a report showing
that pollution levels in Jakarta's 13 rivers continue to
rise. BPLHD drew samples from more than 50 monitoring posts
in the 13 rivers, and the results showed an increase of 1-9
percent in pollution levels. BPLHD measured salinity,
turbidity, suspended particles, and diluted hazardous
particles (nitrate, nitrite, chloride, ammonia, phosphate,
etc.) to assess pollution levels. Controlling pollution
levels in Jakarta's rivers is difficult given that
watersheds for the rivers fall under the jurisdiction of 14
separate municipalities and national agencies.
Environmentalists blame a reported lack of coordination
between the various stakeholders for the increasingly high
pollution in the city's rivers. Jakarta officials have
acknowledged that high pollution levels in the city's rivers
threaten marine ecosystems in the Jakarta Bay. Recent media
reports have highlighted several large fish kills in the
Jakarta Bay area.
The GOI pushes Bio-molecular Research
--------------
11. Special Advisor to the Minister of Research and
Technology Dr. Amin Subandrio announced on January 11 that
Indonesia and the Netherlands would cooperate in bimolecular
research on TB, Hepatitis B, and other tropical diseases,
including avian influenza. The announcement came during the
visit to Jakarta of Netherlands Minister of Education,
Culture and Sciences H.E. Maria JA van der Hoeven.
Subandrio added that the Netherlands wants to collaborate
with the Eijkman Molecular Institute in pursuing
epidemiological and molecular hepatitis studies in Batam.
Indonesia and the Netherlands have in the past undertaken
similar cooperation in Nias and Papua, and have established
a sister institute relationship between the Eijkman
Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta and the Eijkman-
Winkler Institute in Utrecht, the Netherlands, to conduct
infectious diseases research.
Pascoe