Holiday Ayo - 

Greenpeace Indonesia Campaign Coordinator, Iqbal Damanik, asserted that the devastating floods striking several regions in Sumatra were not solely triggered by extreme weather, but by a policy failure on the part of the government.

In its official statement, Greenpeace identified three ministers whom it believes should be held accountable for the disaster.

This viewpoint was expressed by Iqbal during the “Speak Up” podcast with Abraham Samad, which later drew significant public attention on Tuesday.

Iqbal stated that the floods in Batang Toru, Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, and other affected regions were driven by the decline in environmental carrying capacity, caused by weak oversight in the forestry and mining sectors.

“Extreme weather occurred as a result of failed government policies. There is a clear failure of governance,” Iqbal said, referring to Greenpeace’s studies and warnings over the past decade that received insufficient response.

He emphasized that ecological destruction, exacerbated by rampant illegal logging and the large-scale issuance of mining permits, significantly intensified the impact of the disaster. The discovery of logs carried by flood currents was cited as strong evidence of uncontrolled logging activities in the area.

Based on Greenpeace’s analysis, Iqbal named three ministers who, he said, must act “like gentlemen,” ensure a transparent investigation, and be ready to take responsibility:

• Raja Juli Antoni – Minister of Forestry
  Responsible for licensing and supervision of forest areas where illegal logging has taken place.

• Bahlil Lahadalia – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
  Responsible for issuing mining permits on a massive scale without adequately considering environmental risks.

• Hanif Faisol – Minister of Environment
  Responsible for issuing Environmental Impact Assessments (AMDAL) and for environmental control measures that Greenpeace claims did not function properly.

“When disasters like this occur, it means certain functions are not working—whether it is oversight or mitigation,” Iqbal stressed.

Iqbal suspected potential negligence or deliberate omission in the administrative permitting process. He called for the alleged misconduct to be pursued through legal mechanisms, both nationally and internationally.

Beyond urging those responsible to step down, Iqbal emphasized the necessity of justice for the victims.