Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Several NGOs have issued a letter of reprimand against Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan for planning to resume the G Island reclamation project in Jakarta Bay.

The open letter of reprimand was read out by Martin Hadiwinata of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermens Association (KNTI), at the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office, here, Friday.

The resumption of the G Island reclamation project is against a verdict issued in May 2016 by the State Administrative Court (PTUN) in Jakarta that ordered the revocation of the projects permit issued by the Jakarta governor, and suspension of the project until further notice, in effect a legally binding decision, he said.

The legal warning was supported by the Peoples Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Legal Aid Center of Dompet Dhuafa (KNTI), the Muara Angke Traditional Fishermen Community (KNT Muara Angke), the Womens Solidarity, the Students Executive Board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI), and the National Students Executive Board.

The coalition of lawyers, students, activists and fishermen, who are against the reclamation project, have urged the minister to respect the courts verdict and cancel his plans to resume the project.

"We urge Minister Luhut to obey the law and reverse his decision within 72 hours of the letter of reprimand being issued," Bagus Tito Wibisono of the National Students Executive Board said.

They sent copies of the letter to President Joko Widodo and Chairman of the Supreme Court (MA) Hatta Ali.

If the minister does not respond positively to the letter, they will urge the president to sanction him, while the MA chairman will be asked to tell him to abide by the courts verdict.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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