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Following Failed to Return Waste, Minister for the Environment to Go Through Diplomatic Channels
Thursday, 17 March, 2005 | 20:43 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Ministry for the Environment has stated that it would try to settle the Singapore B3 waste case through diplomatic channels.
Up to now, the B3 waste from Singapore is still in the Karimun Islands under the supervision of the local custom and excise authorities.
“I have already contacted our ambassador in Singapore to try a diplomatic approach,” said Rahmat Witoelar, the Minister for the Environment at his office in Jakarta on Thursday (17/3).

According to Rahmat, this is being done so that the Singapore government is clear as regards the problem involving the B3 waste.
The B3 waste itself, that was previously referred to as organic fertilizer, is owned by PT Asia Pasific Eco Lestari (PT APEL), which acted as the importer.
In addition to trying a diplomatic approach, the minister will also attend a meeting with the Singapore government to discuss similar problems.
This meeting will be facilitated by the Basle Convention Secretariat General at the Basel Convention Secretariat General in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 23.

However, according to the minister, at the meeting Indonesia will maintain its position in line with the regulations laid down in the convention.
Rahmat said that under the regulations of the Basle Convention, the sending country must be willing to accept their goods back again if the laws of the receiving country state that the goods send are classified as B3 waste.


During the meeting, he added that charges would be made against PT APEL in terms of this company being responsible for the B3 waste.
This is because PT APEL had previously promised to return the B3 waste to its business partner who acted as the sender.
“I will continue to ask for this. In principle, we object if the waste is dumped in Indonesian water,” said Rahmat.

Rinaldi D Gultom