Denpasar, 21 May 2024. Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) together with civil society organizations from various countries joined the People’s Water Forum discussion forum in Bali as a forum to accommodate discussions and advocacy on various water rights issues which was held in conjunction with the World Water Forum event. -10 in Bali.
Even though the agenda was postponed due to unfounded repressive efforts by community organizations, the event was held again even though the parallel session discussion held by IGJ with the People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) and Pasraman Air continued online via Zoom.
The discussion carried the theme “Behind the Risks of Privatization: The Link between Water Grabbing and Development Financing Mechanisms”. The theme of development financing mechanisms in privatization projects or Public Private Partnership (PPP) has become a discussion starter for the community at the site level to share the reality of water problems due to development, whether it has occurred or is underway.
Communities tell stories about how development projects for tourism, property, drinking water providers, dams, mining and in various other sectors still result in confiscation of water rights. Apart from that, the widespread conflict over injustice over water cannot be separated from other problems such as land grabbing, environmental, traditional and spiritual damage, sanitation, health and agriculture.
It is currently happening in Bali. Indrawati, KPA Bali said that several villages in Bali are currently experiencing a water crisis, which requires people to buy, most likely we will buy water from investors because of the water source crisis. Not to mention the massive tourism development in Bali which is starting to see the potential of Bali’s water sources as a tourism area. “This development also has an impact on the Subak area where the land has run out and the water crisis has resulted in the absence of life in the community,” emphasized Agung Alit from the Taman65 Organization.
Apart from the direct impact felt by people not only in Bali, people on small islands and on the coast are also increasingly under threat. “Small island communities are vulnerable to water sources because their freshwater storage is limited and their water reserves are very low, even to buy drinking water they have to bring it from other islands, as an example of what happened on Pari Island,” emphasized Fikerman, KIARA. In addition, the issue of water on small islands is rarely paid attention to because access for advocacy is limited and the issue is considered unsexy by the media, so this water privatization limits people’s rights to get water.
“On the other hand, there is a connection where the financing mechanism also opens up a wide risk gap when viewed through the lens of increasing national public debt and financial losses in the form of public budget assistance for irresponsible projects. “Meanwhile, currently the APBN space is very narrow due to the government’s debt burden which takes approximately 20 percent just for debt costs,” emphasized Komang Audina, IGJ.
Discussions that coincide with the holding of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) located in Nusa Dua Bali on 18-25 May 2024 with the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity” should not only focus on how much the event can get more investment to accelerate the development of water management infrastructure. However, it is important to ensure how good water management should be and according to the needs of the community for more sustainable life.
Contact Person:
Komang Audina Permana Putri
Coordinator of Debt and Sustainable Finance Issues
Indonesia for Global Justice