9 December 2003
Just a day after hundreds of farmers, activists, and PAM Jaya Labor Union gathered to protest the Water Resources Draft Law, the staffs of Settlement and Infrastructure … Department called Ardhi (Anti Debt Coalition), Reno (Indonesian Consumer Association), and Nila (Indonesian Forum on Globalisation). The demonstration itself was conducted on August 6, 2003 in front of the Parliament House and at the Settlement and Infrastructure Department office. The staffs said that the Minister would like to visit the farmers’ house, especially those who are involved in the 6 August demo.
They said that the Minister would like to visit particularly Mr. Wardiyono (Trucuk subdistrict, Klaten), Mr. Setyarman (Mojolaban subdistrict, Sukoharjo) and Mr. Paris Harjanto (Kedungombo, Sragen), those living near Solo. Unfortunately, due to limited time the Minister’s team could only visit Bpk Wardiyono and Mr. Setyarman. The minister also visit one of farmers’ gathering point in Polanharjo village, Klaten.
In every visit to the farmer’s house, a discussion between the farmers and the minister’s team took place. The minister’s team was composed of some high officials in water resources sector froom national, provincial, and district level. There were 19 cars, including some police cars accompany the minister’s visit
Most of the problems stated by the farmers is related to the limited water available for irrigation and their daily consumption. In Klaten, the problems mostly stated is the impact of Aqua ( a bottled water company) operation. According to farmers, after Aqua started to operate, there are less and less water available to the people to use.
Another problem is the unfair water distribution, the consequence is that farmers don’t have enough water to grow their plants. A farmer also asked about the Water Resources Draft Law, he expressed his worries that the private sector would have a big opportunity to manage water resources. The farmers said that water resources management should stay in government’s hand, since the private sector do not have the obligation to responsible to the people, unlike the government.
An NGO staff asked about weather modification through the clouds, it is stated in article 38 of the Draft Law. He thinks it can cause negative impacts to farmers in areas lacking water, it is possible that even the clouds in these areas will be pulled to other areas for their interest only because the new areas have the resources to do modification.
The Minister answered that there are many of our neighboring countries who has applied weather modification; that if we do not do this it is very possible that they will take our clouds for their own interest.
About the limited water, the minister suggested that everyone involved in the issue to sit together and decide the best solution. According to the minister, the amount of water in Klaten is theoretically not enough, that is why it’s consumption should be discussed together, whether the people decide to use water in turns or just distribute water evenly. Of course it will require a transparent process and understandable by each member to avoid future conflicts.
Water Resources Draft Law were also discussed in the visit. Minister Soenarno told the farmers the background and the importance of the new draft law. The objective of the Draft Law is to protect people’s interests in issues related to water sector. The 3 foundation of the Draft Law are the philosophical foundation that water is a resources needed for the life all living things; jurisdiction foundation that is related to article 33 of Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution; and the technical foundation that water has and will always connected to hydrological cycle.
Minister also said that the law regulating water resources in the country is already 30 years old and it is no longer up to date with the developments in the water sector. It can no longer accommodate decentralization, justice, and democracy principles, that is why the government formulate a new Draft Law to replace the old one. The name of the Draft Law, Water Resources – Sumberdaya Air, is based on three important thing; that is sumber air (water source), daya air (the energy of water) and air (water itself).
In every visit, to close the discussions the minister says that it is very important for everyone to provide inputs to the Draft Law’s materials and that he would welcome these inputs. According to him, it is not too late to give inputs since the Draft Law has not been legalized. If there are farmers who would like to give inputs but having some problems to formulate the words, his department could send some help to facilitate farmers. He expects to received the inputs in August since starting the beginning of next month (September), the Draft Law will be discussed by the parliament. He also expects the people to come to the discussions in the parliament. He also promised to visit other areas in Central Java after August 17, 2003.
Reported by Nila Ardhianie (Indonesian Forum on Globalisation), August 9, 2003.