Press Release:

LAODE IDA: VERY CONCERNED OVER THE VICTIMS OF FLASH FLOOD IN WASIOR

• At least, officials were symbolically visiting to the Wasior, diverting and mobilizing funds for humanitarian assistance;
• Evaluated in complete on regional government policies that related to natural resource management;
• Performed a moratorium on exploitation of natural resources;
• Needed to be done a guided local autonomy.

The occurrence of flash floods that hit Wasior district, West Papua, was very concerning. The victims who died reportedly more than 80 people (up to this press release was written: 59 died, and 27 still missing), plus the victims of property which was  marked by the destruction of Wasior city so it could not function at all, showed the enormity of the natural disasters that followed by heavy rains that hit the region.

The incident was an impact and also a warning to the government of Indonesia, in the form of:

First, exploitation of natural resources (forests) that were not controlled had a direct impact of denudation forest area which was originally serves as the main buffer and simultaneously preventing the occurrence of floods. Because, as reported, the main cause of flash flood was an impact of deforestation around the Wasior city, coupled with the overflow of the lake that located on the height (just above the city of Wasior).

Second, the failure of the autonomous regional governments which were less able to make spatial planning in the perspective of sustainable development (with due regard to environmental balance factor). Autonomous regions were also not able to position themselves to control the various forms of environmental exploitation; even it was possible if the elites (local officials) also contributed in creating destruction or their environmental imbalances as a consequence of their cooperation with the entrepreneurs in the exploitation of natural resources.

Third, the national governments failed to enable themselves as a guide and simultaneously controller the autonomous regional government policies, so that the local officials with freely “on behalf of the autonomous regional authority” in the exploitation of natural resources. As a result, not only environmental governance with an ideal spatial which was not taken care, but also the officials in the area freely destroyed the environment. The barren forest in Wasior with the impact of its flood victims, it was just a fraction of consequences of autonomous regions that were not guided and / or lost of national government responsibility in the processed of managing local natural resources.

Thus, special for the victims or impact of flash floods in Wasior, then:

First, the government should immediately coordinate the deployment of humanitarian assistance in effectively and efficiently, where for a while minimize the visiting of officials to the Wasior district. Funds for officials visit costs in Wasior are better being diverted to humanitarian aid.

Second, in the short term the government also immediately conducts a thorough evaluation of various local government policies and environmental conditions in relevant areas related to exploitation of natural resources (forests and including mine), while asking first to do a moratorium EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

Third, national governments need to implement policies of GUIDED DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL AUTONOMY, as a stage to make sure the blue print and management design that takes into account the principles of sustainable ecosystem balance (sustainable development).

Thus this press release is made, with all its deep concern and sorrow over the victims of flash floods disaster that occurred in Wasior.

6.10.2010

Laode Ida

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