The Indonesian government is planning to develop tweleve nuclear power plants by the year 2015 to fulfil the demand for energy needs. The Muria Peninsula in Central Java, which is now an agricultural and fishing area, is the proposed site of first nuclear plant. We,participants to the 4th No Nukes Asia Forum,had a long bus ride and arrived Semarang,the capital of Central Java,in a early morning. It's about 400km east from Jakarta, but not so far in the form of radio-activity.

Cheerful children in Jepara,neighbor town of the proposed site. In this district, foreigners like us may be curious, but they always smile in a friendly way.

From Semarang to the proposed sites area,via Jepara,our field trip might attract attention of the military and the police. In an agricultural and fishing area like there, stranger stands out willy-nilly. And it was the reason why we had no special contact with the local people there.

Fishing boats at the Singapore Beach. It is also near the proposed site and hot waste water from nuclear power plants will spoil the coastal fishery.

The Singapore Beach lies next to the village of Ujungwatu,56km northeast from the town of Jepara. Before Ujung Lemah Abang,a part of the village of Balong,has chosen as the most prospective location of the first nuclear power plant,Ujungwatu has been nominated as the most prospective location of it. But anyway there is only 15km distance between them and both have fertile land.

A commemorative picture!!

Next destination was Solo(Surakarta), southern city of Central Java. Frankly speaking, all of us were very tired at that time because of the succeeding bus ride!! But in Solo,comfortable cottages awaited us and we were quite refreshed with a meal and their hospitality.

At the meeting in Solo. A picture on the wall is the President Suharto. That is quite usual at the facilities like there.

In the morning of August 1st, we held a meeting at Solo. Many activist in Central Java who had kept good relationship with us came to gather and rejoiced at seeing each other again.

At the meeting, we exchanged our experiences around anti-nukes movements and had some discussion about them. The most significant reports were brought by the local people from Jepara who are against Nukes. They spoke to us as follows about the serious condition of their activities.

"Actions in public are difficult especially near the proposed site area. It is because of the stern watching by the military and the police. There is an official notice to inform the police if a foreigner is seen in their villages. So a permit of the authorities is necessary to visit these area. A seminar in this May which was planned to be held inviting dozens of people, was broken up by the military. It's a pity that this example is not unusual."

"On the other hand, government holds many seminars and pre-arranged discussions as a way to attract the local people to support the nuclear project. It is sure that the community is worried about the project. But it is still a taboo to express an objection to the government. People fears to be labeled as a communist. Because it means to obliterate socially in this oppressive country."

"As the local people haven't understood yet about nuclear technology with its effect for the earth and the people life, sometimes their main anxieties are compensation for their lands. Therefore, it is important to tell the people the reality of nuclear technology, but it is not enough. How could we get their mind? That is the problem."

Today's lunch!! MIE BAKSO(noodle with meat ball). BAKSO is a meat ball made from fish. Topping is fried onion sauce and shrimp-taste rice cracker

In the afternoon, participants from abroad were divided into over 10 groups and each group went to visit various local NGOs. Above all, a group that visited an institute of the appropriate technology(AT) at Boyolali, spent a good time there. They observed a bio-gas plant at there and had a small discussion about the alternative energy resources in Indonesia.

Snapshot of interviewing to a local resident. The background is Branbanan (ruins of hinduism temple)

After finishing the study tour, each group gathered again in Yogyakarta early in the evening and shared each special experiences all over the night.