Indonesia: President Widodo and three ministers condemned for air pollution
An aerial view of the Indonesian capital Jakarta under pollution on June 13, 2021 © BAY ISMOYO / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
It is a historic verdict, 32 citizens have just won the lawsuit they brought against local and national authorities in Indonesia.
Thursday, September 17 in the morning, they were found guilty of non-compliance with regulations relating to air pollution.
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These are words that Yuyun Ismawati has been
waiting for two years
, and that finally pronounced Judge Saifuddin Zuhri this Thursday morning: "
The defendants have committed an illegal act, and will have to tighten the national standards of air quality so that" they can protect health, the environment and ecosystems.
"
The accused are not just anyone: Joko Widodo, the Indonesian president himself, three ministers and three governors of the province of Java.
But activist Yuyun Ismawati thinks, above all, of her grandson.
“
As one of the plaintiff citizens, I really hoped that my grandson could have the right to live in a healthy environment and breathe not too polluted air, and with him the Indonesian children, because by winning this lawsuit, the government should introduce regulations not only in Jakarta, but also in other regions, following WHO recommendations.
"
According to a 2019 study, Jakarta regularly exceeds the recommendations of the World Health Organization by 4 or 5 times.
►Also read: Pollution: residents of Jakarta attack the Indonesian government
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Environment
Pollution
Indonesia
Justice
Joko Widodo