Indonesia closer to ratifying ASEAN trans-boundary haze treaty
Indonesia closer to ratifying ASEAN trans-boundary haze treaty
03 March 2014
published by www.channelnewsasia.com
Indonesia — Indonesia’s parliament is a step closer to ratifying the ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution. Parties representing nearly 65 per cent of lawmakers have agreed to ratify the treaty.
Indonesia’s parliament is a step closer to ratifying the ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution.
Parties representing nearly 65 per cent of lawmakers have agreed to ratify the treaty.
Only two political parties – the PDI-P and PKS – have opposed it.
They cited concerns over the violation of sovereignty, as the agreement would allow firefighters from ASEAN countries to extinguish fires on Indonesian territory.
The next step will see a draft bill being discussed, before the agreement is formally ratified in parliament.
Mr Balthasar Kambuaya, Indonesia’s Environment Minister, said: “We must take a lead in issues like this, so we have to ratify this agreement. We need to lead in numerous decisions related to trans-boundary haze. We are grateful that the legislators have agreed to discuss this further during the next meeting.”
He expressed hopes that the bill will be ratified before the next ASEAN meeting on trans-boundary haze in April.
The ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution was signed in June 2002.
Indonesia is the only country which has yet to ratify the treaty.
