:: Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia ::

During the 40 years period, it is natural if the environmental condition in the area is pleasantly formed, indicates by the amount of tree volume grown in the area of 5 hectares, which mostly are larger than two men embrace.

But the condition of the area so far used by Palembang citizens as public green area is now threatened by development greed led by the current regime, where on the following year South Sumatra provincial government will host the 26th SEA GAMES event. As we all know, South Sumatra provincial government plan to make this area as Palembang Sport and Convention Center (PSCC) business area which facilitates hotel, cafe, and restaurant. Many protests have been sent by the citizens to the South Sumatra provincial government stating that they reject the government's plan to convert the area. Not only ignoring the protests, the governor also stated that PSCC construction project will continue even though there were many protests, because the one protesting is just a “minority” ?!

Many people regret the governor's statement which was quoted by many media; and one of them is us, Aliansi Parlement Jalanan (APJ). Because we consider that kind of statement is improper to be said by a governor of a country which upholds the principle of “Pancasila Democracy”.

The plan of converting Sport Hall Public Green Area into Palembang Sport and Convention Center (PSCC) which will build hotel, cafe and restaurant is reinforced by Palembang District Government's Decree issued by Mayor of Palembang city. The construction permit was issued a month ago for Griya Inti Sejahtera Insani Ltd (GISI Ltd) as the developer of this Palembang Sport Hall Public Green Area. This means that the issuance legalize the diminishing of Public Green Area in Palembang city. In the other hand, Public Green Area quota of Palembang city has not fulfill the requirements of Spatial Law No.26 of 2007, chapter 29 article 2 and 3; saying that Public Green Area quota of each city in Indonesia must be at least 20 percent and the other 10 percent is Private Green Area. Meanwhile, Public Green Area in Palembang is only around 1,200 ha or 3 percent of Palembang city. This will implicate to the community due to Public Green Area as we all know is as the balancer of city climate, carbon emission absorber produced by motor vehicle, oxygen producer for human, water absorber, economic support for low class society, recreation and evacuation for disaster victims.

Aside from those mention above, currently based on Spatial Law, Palembang district government is drafting and issuing City Spatial Planning Draft of 2010 – 2030 to be ratified by the provincial government of South Sumatra. It is a document consisting the objective of South Sumatra provincial government either physically (infrastructure) or non-physically. One of them is determining area that will be Public Green Area in Palembang according to the Law, including the establishment of Sport Hall Public Green Area of Palembang city in the future; either it stays as a Public Green Area or in the contrary shifted into a business area.

Based on the explanation mentioned above, then we from the Aliansi Parlemen Jalanan (APJ) declare and demand as follows:

   1. Palembang district government must immediately abrogate the construction permit of GISI Ltd for hotel, cafe, and restaurant or Palembang Sport and Convention Center (PSCC) within Palembang Sport Hall Public Green Area.

   2. Palembang district government NOT to convert the status of Sport Hall Public Green Area into business area on Palembang District Spatial Planning Draft of 2010 – 2030 which is currently issued to the South Sumatra provincial government.

   3. Immediately realize 30 percent of Public Green Area in Palembang without evicting any existing livelihood. 20 percent of those Public Green Area is made and created by district government for public interests.




Contact:
Hadi Jatmiko
08127312042