April 22, 2017
Japanese Communist Party lawmakers on April 21 made representations to a government-funded bank over its decision to finance a project to construct a coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. The project faces fierce opposition from local residents.
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) plans to finance the construction project for a coal-burning power station in West Java in Indonesia, which is promoted by Japanese large corporations such as Marubeni. In Indonesia, local residents filed a lawsuit seeking revocation of the government permission for the project, claiming that it will bring about environmental destruction.
At the Upper House Financial Affairs Committee meeting on April 13, JCP legislator Daimon Mikishi argued that the JBIC should not finance the project which is a subject of litigation. JBIC CEO Kondo Akira said in response that they will take appropriate measures in accordance with environmental guidelines after the court makes a decision on the case. On the day before the court ruling on April 19, however, the bank decided to go ahead with its loan program.
In the representations to the JBIC, Daimon condemned the bank for taking an attitude which contradicts its CEO’s statement in the Diet. A JBIC official in charge of the energy division made excuses by saying that the bank is not a party to the lawsuit and that they have just set up the financial program before the deadline for those ventures to conclude a contract to sell electricity in Indonesia.
Criticizing the bank for slighting Diet deliberations, Daimon demanded the cancellation of its loan scheme. The representations were joined by JCP parliamentarians Iwabuchi Tomo and Takeda Ryosuke.
Past related articles:
> Abe promotes sale of coal-fired plants [January 14, 2017]
> JCP urges gov’t-funded bank to not finance Indonesian project that is causing human rights violations [March 25, 2016]
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) plans to finance the construction project for a coal-burning power station in West Java in Indonesia, which is promoted by Japanese large corporations such as Marubeni. In Indonesia, local residents filed a lawsuit seeking revocation of the government permission for the project, claiming that it will bring about environmental destruction.
At the Upper House Financial Affairs Committee meeting on April 13, JCP legislator Daimon Mikishi argued that the JBIC should not finance the project which is a subject of litigation. JBIC CEO Kondo Akira said in response that they will take appropriate measures in accordance with environmental guidelines after the court makes a decision on the case. On the day before the court ruling on April 19, however, the bank decided to go ahead with its loan program.
In the representations to the JBIC, Daimon condemned the bank for taking an attitude which contradicts its CEO’s statement in the Diet. A JBIC official in charge of the energy division made excuses by saying that the bank is not a party to the lawsuit and that they have just set up the financial program before the deadline for those ventures to conclude a contract to sell electricity in Indonesia.
Criticizing the bank for slighting Diet deliberations, Daimon demanded the cancellation of its loan scheme. The representations were joined by JCP parliamentarians Iwabuchi Tomo and Takeda Ryosuke.
Past related articles:
> Abe promotes sale of coal-fired plants [January 14, 2017]
> JCP urges gov’t-funded bank to not finance Indonesian project that is causing human rights violations [March 25, 2016]
