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Jakarta High Court finds president Jokowi negligent over pollution

Source
Tempo - October 21, 2022

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Jakarta High Court upheld the Central Jakarta District Court's ruling which stated that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the Environment Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, and the Health Minister had committed unlawful acts in dealing with air pollution.

The panel of judges led by Abdul Fattah and members Mohammad Lutfi and Marsudin Nainggolan ruled in favor of 32 citizens who filed a citizen lawsuit.

Quoted Thursday, October 20, 2022, the verdict noted that Jokowi and his ministers have been negligent by not carrying out their obligations in fulfilling the right to a good and healthy environment, which resulted in poor air quality in the capital city.

As a result, the plaintiffs and the people of Jakarta suffered losses, including various diseases related to air pollution.

"This victory of Jakarta residents over the air pollution lawsuit reinforces the fact that clean air is a necessity that cannot be separated from the daily lives of Jakarta residents," said Jeanny Sirait, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs.

On September 16, 2021, she recalled, the Central Jakarta District Court found five of the seven defendants violated the law and ordered them to carry out the nine-point judge's decision in an effort to control Jakarta's hazardous air.

"We urge the government not to file an appeal against the lawsuit won by citizens. To citizens and all the people of Indonesia, this is no longer the time for a strong fight in the legal process as the citizen's health is at stake," she underlined.

Instead of filing an appeal, said Jeanny, it would be wiser for the government to use the time to ensure the improvement of the clean air control system in Jakarta. "There can be no more delay in ensuring air quality standards that are in accordance with WHO, for example."

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1647733/jakarta-high-court-finds-president-jokowi-negligent-over-pollutio

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