Japan sued over funding of dam, (MY) a biotech hub

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The Star Online

6 Sep, 2002

 

Indons sue Japan over dam it funded

 

TOKYO: Nearly 4,000 Indonesians sued the Japanese government

yesterday, demanding compensation for a dam funded by aid from Tokyo that they

say has destroyed their livelihood and damaged the environment.

 

The suit, the first against a project funded by Japan's official

development assistance (ODA), was filed in the Tokyo District Court by 3,861

Indonesians who said they were forcibly resettled to make way for the

Kotopanjang Dam in Sumatra, lawyers for the plaintiffs said.

 

The plaintiffs demanded 5mil yen (RM160,500) each in compensation

from the Japanese government and its foreign assistance body, the Japan

International Co-operation Agency, for damage to their lifestyle, including a

lack of fresh water and jobs in the area where they were resettled.

 

" This move was not made by choice. They became developmental

refugees, " said Fumio Asano, one of the group's lawyers.

 

" The compensation is not the main thing. They would like Japan to

take measures to help them regain the lifestyle they had before they had to

resettle. "

 

Also named in the suit were the Japan Bank for International

Co-operation (JBIC), a semi-governmental bank that provides loans to foreign

countries and overseas projects, and Tokyo Electric Power Services Co, an

affiliate of Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), Japan's largest utility.

 

The hydroelectric dam, completed in 1997, was built in central

Sumatra at a cost of some 31bil yen (RM995.1mil).

 

Plaintiffs say it has damaged the natural environment and that wild

animals in the area, including elephants, face starvation, Kyodo news agency

said.

 

The Foreign Ministry had no official comment on the suit, but

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukio Takeuchi was quoted by a spokesman as

telling reporters on Monday that such projects are decided by both nations and

Japan then gives its assistance.

 

" We will study the petition carefully and consider our response, " he

was quoted as saying.

 

The Japan Bank of International Co-operation said in a statement

that it would consult with the other defendants on what possible response to

make after studying the lawsuit. - Reuters

 

 

 

The Star Online

9 Sep, 2002

 

 

M'sia can be a biotech hub, says Japanese expert

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has what it takes to be a biotechnology

hub with its rich rainforest resource and the IT infrastructure of Cyberjaya,

said renowned Japanese eco-architect Dr Kisho Kurokawa.

 

" About 90% to 95% of new species or genome of the future will

be found in the rainforest and if this resource of biotechnology is developed,

it will become a huge industry in this country. I think that this natural

resource will be bigger than the oil resources in the world, " he said after

being conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Architecture by Universiti Putra

Malaysia (UPM) at its 26th Convocation 2002 on Saturday.

 

He added that the area of Cyberjaya and Putrajaya could

provide the perfect site for an " Eco-Media City " and " Bio-technology Valley "

concept that he hoped the Government would take up.

 

" I have already met Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Dr Mahathir

(Mohamad) and I think that his response to the idea has been positive but we

would still need to conduct more preliminary studies before any decision can be

made, " he said, explaining that the biotechnology industry would require a huge

number of specialists and experts, which would take some time to establish in

Malaysia.

 

Dr Kurokawa, 64, of Kisho Kurokawa and Associates, has

designed numerous art galleries, high-rise buildings, domestic airports and

participated in urban planning projects around the world. KLIA was one of his

latest which incorporated his philosophy of symbiosis between nature and

technology.

 

UPM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zohadie Bardaie said

the university was confident that it would be able to meet the country's demand

of biotechnology experts and knowledge with its new Rainforest Centre.