The Indonesian Constitution guarantees the right to a good and healthy environment to every person — Hafiz Hassan
OCTOBER 17 — Sanja Saranovic, deputy representative of Unicef Malaysia says every child has the right to brea...
On October 17, it was reported that the Indonesian Constitution guarantees every person the right to live in physical and spiritual prosperity, enjoy a home, and have a good and healthy environment, including through Article 28H(1) of the document. This constitutional protection, which has been in place since 2000, encompasses access to clean air, water, and a stable climate.
However, this constitutional guarantee appears to clash with the views of the Indonesian Communications Agency head, Syahganda Nainggolan, who made controversial remarks regarding transboundary haze.
In response to regional criticism over haze issues, Nainggolan stated that Indonesia's tropical rainforests provide oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore. He went on to say, "We don’t just send smoke; when there is no smoke, we send oxygen. 'The oxygen in Singapore and Malaysia also comes from our forests.'" This statement could be considered incompatible with the constitutionally guaranteed right to a good and healthy environment for every person, not only Indonesian citizens.
Despite the constitutional provision, the Indonesian government's stance on environmental issues raises concerns over the implementation and enforcement of the right to a healthy environment. The right, included in the constitution, provides a strong legal basis for challenging policies and practices that undermine environmental health.
It is noteworthy that 92 countries, including Indonesia, have included a constitutional right to a healthy environment, demonstrating a growing global recognition of this fundamental human right.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
