IIU plant closed 'only temporarily'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (ANTARA): The government has shut down giant pulp
\nmaker PT Inti Indorayon Utama (PT IIU) in Porsea, North Sumatra,
\ntemporarily pending a permanent settlement of its case by an
\narbitrator, an Indonesian environmental activist said here.<\/p>\n
The temporary nature of the plant's closure was indicated by
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid to Indonesian Forum for the
\nEnvironment (Walhi) chairwoman Emmy Hafild at a meeting here
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
"The plant was closed down to accommodate objections from the
\nlocal people. But the closure is not final because an arbitrator
\nwill take up the case and issue a ruling on the issue," Wahid was
\nquoted by Emmy as saying.<\/p>\n
Emmy met the president in the company of a delegation of the
\nPorsea community.<\/p>\n
The president had said he had decided to submit the company
\ncase to an arbitrator after some of his cabinet members gave
\nopposing views on it.<\/p>\n
Environment Minister Sony Keraf wanted the government to close
\ndown the company permanently, while Industry and Trade Minister
\nYusuf Kalla and State Minister for Empowerment of State
\nEnterprises Laksamana Sukardi insisted on bringing the issue to a
\nlegal institution.<\/p>\n
During the meeting with Wahid, the Porsea community delegation
\nexpressed support to Minister Keraf's stand. It also reported
\nthat since the plant was closed, the local people were able to
\nresume their normal agricultural and farming activities.<\/p>\n
The pulp-maker stands accused of having caused grave
\nenvironmental damage in the region where it operated.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iiu-plant-closed-only-temporarily-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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