Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government and the House of Representatives began discussions Monday evening on whether to ratify the ASEAN agreement on trans boundary haze pollution.
A working committee consisting of 40 legislators from three commissions overseeing defense and foreign affairs, agriculture and forestry affairs and environment affairs presented their views on the agreement.
The government was represented by State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, State Minister for Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman, Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.
Witoelar called on the House to ratify the agreement, saying it would have more positive than negative affects on the country.
"Ratifying the agreement will have a more positive impact on Indonesia because trans boundary haze pollution has affected not only locals and the domestic economy but also foreign countries. It will also help preserve the environment," he told the meeting.
"Otherwise, the government will remain the subject of blame, not only by foreign countries but also by locals affected by the annual haze pollution."
He also said that by ratifying the agreement, Indonesia was obliged to mitigate the haze and set up an institution to monitor the agreement's implementation.
Other legislators warned against ratifying the agreement, saying it would have negative implications for the country.
Agusman Effendi, who chairs the environment commission, said his commission had agreed to deliberate the bill to ratify the agreement on trans boundary haze pollution after consulting forest concession holders, plantation owners and informal leaders in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where much of the annual haze originates.
Sabam Sirait and Soeripto of the House's defense and foreign affairs commission condemned the agreement, which they said placed all responsibility for the haze on Indonesia.
They said that Indonesia should only ratify the agreement with reservations.
"Other countries have signed the agreement because they have no forests or only a few forest areas. To be consistent, Singapore and Malaysia should also be committed to fight illegal logging in Indonesia by stopping their use of illegal logs," said Sabam.
While all 10 ASEAN countries signed the agreement in 2002, Indonesia and the Philippines are yet to ratify it.
Bomer Pasaribu of the agriculture and forestry commission called on the government to be cautious of the legal consequences of ratifying the agreement.
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