Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has reported Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo to the Indonesian Ombudsman for alleged maladministration because of his non-compliance with a Supreme Court ruling on the revocation of a permit to construct a new factory obtained by state-run cement producer PT Semen Indonesia.
Ganjar initially revoked the permit following a Supreme Court ruling in October 2012. He apparently issued a new one the next month claiming that it was an addendum, but it enabled the cement factory to continue the construction of the factory, much to the dismay of local farmers and activists.
"The governor should have fully complied with the ruling instead of [...] issuing a new decree in the guise of an addendum. Such non-compliance has disgraced the Supreme Court," YLBHI lawyer Muhammad Isnur said on Tuesday.
On Jan. 16, Ganjar issued a decree to revoke the permit and ordered the suspension of the factory's construction until the company completed all necessary environmental documents, including the environmental impact analysis (Amdal), environment management plan (RKL) and environment monitoring plan (RPL).
However, the YLBHI claimed that it had been found alleged malpractice in the issuance of the gubernatorial decree last month that lacked of farmer participation.
Hundreds of farmers have demonstrated by blocking the access road to the factory. Demonstrations have been held for almost three years on the back of fears that the factory would damage the environment and dry up local springs and affect their livelihoods.