GERHAN Malpractices in Pubabu

Land and Forest Rehabilitation Development Program (GERHAN) declared since the Governance of Megawati Soekarno Putri (2005) has never been evaluated. Some malpractices fact in field is always resolved permissively (tolerable) by authoritative party. Specifically those happened in remote area which is far from Central Government monitoring.

This budget deficit experiencing program (since 2006) -- in a discussion held by Farmer Center, 2007 at IPB Alumni Centre, representatives from Commission IV DPR mentioned, Governance of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bear burden to continue GERHAN Program without expense, budget for Gerhan 2008 implementation had spent out in year 2007 - recently, GERHAN program destroy the ancestral forest ecosystem area of Pubabu Besipe traditional community, Polo Village and Linamutu Village.

GERHAN Malpractices at two villages in the Regency of Southern Mid-East (Timur Tengah Selatan or TTS), I fact conducted by Southern Mid-East Forestry Bureau. 6.000 hectare of Indigenous Forest (kiou) that previously declared as a intensive cattle ranch model area (Indonesia - Australia cooperated program in 1982-1987), since 2003 have been harvested down and burned gradually by 4 group of society chosen by Forestry Bureau as GERHAN perpetrator. Though, the area itself have become a water catchments area as a positive impact from intensive cattle ranch model area program where aid beneficiary society have to cultivate their customary right land with annual crop for cattle food supply.

"It is difficult for us to get water. The closest Wellspring now is 3 km far. Usually, after Australian project (intensive cattle ranch model pilot project of Indonesia-Australia cooperation - red) ended, there are 10 wellspring source emerged" complain one of the Pubabu Besipe community member at particular discussion with WALHI (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia) National Secretariat office of WALHI in Jakarta ( 16/1).

These Seven delegations of Timur Tengah Selatan society have visited Jakarta for weeks; previously they also visited Surabaya for three weeks but caught in fuzziness. Fortunately, they have friend work at the national private television network, which gave help to led them to meet WALHI in Jakarta. They wish to report this GERHAN malpractices problem to the central government in charge. They achieve this as a form that in their own region government, their denunciating did not taken seriously from local government and police.

"We had our chance to meet the bureau, major, DPRD, and we even report this to police. They have once apologized, but still the area kept harvested in 2006. In 2008 bureau have plans to cut down 400 ha of trees. Two of our community members are under arrest, just because they reporting," said one of community delegation which coincidently has uncle in Jakarta as DPD (Council of Area Delegation) from Timur Tengah Selatan Regency.

It is clear for WALHI, Kpshk, LSADI, LMND, and some other civil organizational elements cope to convey these Pubabu Besipe delegation to meet some party in charge for the implementation of GERHAN Program which are; Minister of Forestry, States Minister of Environment and Minister of Coordinator of People Prosperity. The action conducted by mean that these governance functionary will seriously respond the GERHAN malpractices, it is previously stated clearly, that the government didn't take an evaluation of the program solemnly, and to respond a law enforcement occurred during GERHAN malpractices especially in Timur Tengah Selatan. (Nino)