Shifting Sands
THE theft of sand for the reclamation of Jakarta Bay is two crimes in one. Removing sand is forbidden because it can damage the coastal ecosystem, or even cause islands whose sand is dredged to disappear from the map. Piling up sand to create new islandsno matter whether or not this is backed up by a government decisionis wrong because it threatens the safety of Jakartans. The more than 5,000 hectares of new islands resulting from the reclamation will clog rivers, cause floods and damage the ecosystem.
The government must act fast. The report filed by Thousand Islands Regent Tri Djoko Sumargiono with the National Police about the theft of sand must be followed up. A wider-ranging investigation could then follow. If this case is solved, it could be a way to halt the Jakarta Bay reclamationan important decision that the administration of Joko Widodo should take.
June 2, 2015
THE theft of sand for the reclamation of Jakarta Bay is two crimes in one. Removing sand is forbidden because it can damage the coastal ecosystem, or even cause islands whose sand is dredged to disappear from the map. Piling up sand to create new islandsno matter whether or not this is backed up by a government decisionis wrong because it threatens the safety of Jakartans. The more than 5,000 hectares of new islands resulting from the reclamation
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