"The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry must stop the spirit of liberalizing national assets on the ground the spirit is against the constitution," secretary general of the People`s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) M Riza Damanik said.
He said the liberalization-based programs would allow the country to "pawn" land and water and all the natural wealth contained therein.
In addition, he said the practices would make Indonesia a sovereignless country and increasingly dependent on foreign parties.
"As a matter of fact, Indonesia has the ability to manage the natural wealth on its own for the greatest benefit of the people`s welfare," he said.
One of the suspected liberalization programs was the development of a megaminapolitan in Morotai island, North Maluku. The government has reportedly licensed a Taiwanese company to carry out the project with an initial investment of US$20 billion.
The other was the government program which would allow mining companies to "adopt" 20 islets, he said.
Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) campaign spokesman Hendrik Siregar said the program had the potentials to destroy the carrying capacity of the environment and marginalize the role of the local people.
"The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry must stop the manipulative program to exploit mining potentials on the islets," he said.
The island adoption program carried out in cooperation with private and state firms is part of the ministry`s programs aimed at promoting the living standard of the local people.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said such cooperation was needed due in part to low budget allocations for waters conservation efforts which reach Rp13.5 billion a year.
(Uu.S012/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
