Conservationists have already raised concerns about Thursday’s auction at Sotheby’s of development rights to coral atoll network
The sale of islands to non-Indonesians is banned under Indonesian law, so buyers must bid for shares in PT Leadership Islands Indonesia , an Indonesian development firm that has licensed the rights to build an eco-resort and luxury residential properties on the reserve.
Conservationists say the development could cut off local communities and threaten its ecosystems, which feature rainforests, mangroves, lagoons, lakes and coral reefs that are home to vast marine life. Home affairs minister Tito Karnavian has defended the sale, telling critics that the firm PT LII was simply trying to raise a capital investment. “The aim is not to auction [Widi Reserve],” CNN Indonesia quoted Karnavian as saying. “The aim is to attract foreign investors, so that’s fine.”
Sotheby’s has previously addressed the environmental concerns. Charlie Smith, Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions’ executive vice-president, told the Guardian via email that PT LII would be “actively involved, not just handing over the entire project”.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two SA universities look to merge and create top 100 contenderThe Universities of Adelaide and South Australia have taken a step closer to becoming a single institution which would catapult it into the world’s top 100.
Read more »
Raphael Warnock has won a US Senate runoff. Here's what it means for the Democrats, and Donald TrumpDemocrats now are on track for a 51-seat majority in the 100-seat US Senate.
Read more »
Indonesian ban on sex outside marriage ‘problematic’ for Bali touristsAustralian tourists in Bali could be ensnared by a new Indonesian law punishing sex outside marriage with up to a year in jail, although officials say visitors “shouldn’t be worried'
Read more »
Indonesian ban on sex outside marriage ‘problematic’ for Bali touristsDe facto foreign couples can’t be denounced to authorities but a tourist who had sex with a local and was reported by that person’s family could face trouble.
Read more »
Bali bomb maker Umar Patek released from Indonesian prisonPatek was jailed 10 years ago over role in 2002 attacks, which killed more than 200 people
Read more »
'Very, very rare' fossil unearthed in outback Queensland an Australian firstPalaeontologists who visited a remote property to investigate reports of a large fossil have confirmed a discovery dating back 100 million years.
Read more »