[Kabar-indonesia] Poso security command marks end of mandate [+Hydroelectric plant project]

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: Poso hydroelectric plant project remains on hold

The Jakarta Post 
Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Poso security command marks end of mandate

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso

The task force that for the past six months has worked to maintain security 
in the conflict-torn city of Poso, Central Sulawesi, saw its mandate officially 
come to an end Monday.

Thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition confiscated by the Security 
Restoration Operation Command during its term were put on display at Poso 
military headquarters to mark the event.

The task force, set up Jan. 5 this year, answers to the Coordinating Ministry 
for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. It was formed to investigate a 
series of violent attacks in Poso and Palu following the 2001 Malino peace 
agreement, which largely brought an end to clashes between Christians and Muslims 
that killed more than 1,000 people in 2000 and 2001.

Task force head Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko said most of the weapons and 
ammunition on display were seized during a series of operations in Poso over the 
past six months. He added that some of the items had been voluntarily turned in 
by residents.

The weapons on display include 1,698 bullets of various calibers, 278 rifles 
and 85 pistols. There are also two grenades manufactured by state armory PT 
Pindad, 18 homemade bombs, 133 detonators and 74 arrows.

"All of these weapons will be destroyed after the display," Purwoko said. He 
added that the presentation was intended to show the public there remained 
many illegal weapons in circulation.

In addition to seizing weapons and curbing violence in Poso and Palu, the 
security task force also captured several people suspected of involvement in the 
Poso conflict, as well as a number of suspects in the embezzlement of 
humanitarian aid meant for victims of the violence.

Central Sulawesi has been awash with illegal firearms since the conflict in 
the area began in 2000. Between 2000 and 2004, police in the province recorded 
174 cases of violence involving firearms.

Commenting on a bomb blast at Eklesia Church in Poso on Saturday night, 
Purwoko said police had identified the perpetrators.

He said the explosion, which did not cause any casualties, was linked to 
groups opposing the renovation of the church, which was badly damaged during the 
conflict in 2001.

"We will continue to investigate the case and search for those responsible," 
he said. 

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The Jakarta Post 
Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Poso hydroelectric plant project remains on hold

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

A longstanding dispute over a hydroelectric power plant (PLTA) project in 
Poso, Central Sulawesi, appears no closer to being resolved.

Residents of seven villages in North Pamona district affected by the project 
have demanded that PT Hadji Kalla and PT Bukaka Hydropower Engineering and 
Consulting Co., which are building the plant, pay them more money for their land.

The coordinator of the Front for PLTA and High Voltage Transmission Lines in 
Poso, Marten Ombo, said the companies were willing to pay just Rp 1,750 (19 
U.S. cents) per square meter for land affected by the project.

"Why are they willing to pay so little for land for a project of such 
significance?" he said.

Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) member Agussalim Faisal Said 
said the companies had not paid for the land they acquired for the Sulewana PLTA 
project.

"This is a serious problem, which PT Bukaka needs to resolve immediately. 
Just because its a big project, people are deprived of their rights. Don't let 
people think Bukaka has cheated the people," said Agussalim.

The power plant's construction started in April 2005. It is expected to 
generate a combined capacity of around 740 Megawatts (MW): PLTA Poso-1 (160 MW), 
Poso-2 (180 MW) and Poso-3 (300 - 400 MW). At present work is only being done on 
PLTA Poso-2 or PLTA Sulewana.

Agussalim quoted George Aditjondro as saying in the Suara Pembaruan daily 
that the Poso PLTA project had violated Law No. 23/1997 on environmental 
management, Government Regulation No. 27/1999 on the environmental impact analysis 
(Amdal) and State Minister of Environmental Affairs Decree No. 3/2000 on the type 
of business and/or activity that must be equipped with an Amdal.

Besides problems on land compensation, the project has not attained an Amdal 
approval. Head of the Central Sulawesi chapter Amdal, Said Awad, acknowledged 
that the PLTA project had never submitted documents on Amdal thus far, or even 
invited Amdal for discussion on the project.

"The project must pay attention to social, economic, cultural and 
environmental aspects, because there would definitely be changes after its completion," 
said Said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Commission on Developmental Affairs of the Central 
Sulawesi legislature, Muharram Nurdin, emphasized that the project had 
violated regulations for failing to conduct Amdal analysis.

"Aren't high voltage power lines to be installed later? Have the management 
of the project considered about the matter?" queried Muharram.

Administrative chief of Sangira, one of the seven villages affected by the 
project, Edy Sutrisno, urged PT Hadji Kalla and PT Bukaka to immediately stop 
land marking activities in his village until they obtained the required permits 
and informed area residents.

"We have also asked them to immediately discuss and make arrangements with 
the village administration and residents on land compensation procedures," said 
Edy.

Manager of the PLTA Poso project, Heru Priyadi Husaini, said that based on 
Government Regulation No. 6/2005, parties who disapprove the project have 
absolutely no right to call for a moratorium.

Heru said that the project had gone through the Amdal analysis conducted by 
the Amdal team from the Poso regency administration and signed by the Poso 
regent on July 21, 2005. The team consisted of environmental experts from the 
Tadulako University in Palu, Makassar's Hasanuddin University and Haluuleo 
University in Kendari. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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