JP\/5\/GADIS<\/p>\n
Walhi demands end to mining operations in Batang Gadis forest<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan
\nMedan<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) demanded on
\nMonday that the government stop gold mining in the Batang Gadis
\nNational Park, Mandailing Natal regency here, saying that it
\nwould damage the environment in the area.<\/p>\n
Mining firm PT Sorikmas Mining (PT SM) was granted a license
\nto mine gold in parts of the national park in 1998, and the
\ncompany has been exploring the area since then.<\/p>\n
Herwin Nasution, the executive director of Walhi's North
\nSumatra chapter, said that the decision to grant the mining
\nlicense to the company violated Law No. 41\/1999 that prohibited
\nmining in protected forests.<\/p>\n
\"If mining really takes place in the national park, an
\nenvironmental catastrophe will certainly happen in the area. If
\nthis happens, it will be a disaster for the communities living
\nnear the national park, as they may be victims of floods and
\nlandslides,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The NGOs, including Walhi, have stepped up pressure on the
\ngovernment to put an end to mining activities in protected
\nforests, following flash flood in Bahorok, North Sumatra, which
\nkilled over 140 people last year.<\/p>\n
The incident raised awareness among people that forests have
\nto be protected to prevent repeated flash floods and landslides
\nin the future. Not only the NGO, but local people have also
\nbecome aware that forests are important as catchment areas.
\nRecently, local residents in Mandailing Natal, who live along the
\nbanks of Batang Gadis River, demanded that the local government
\nname a forest near the river as a national park, or Batang Gadis
\nNational Park.<\/p>\n
The demand by the local residents was accepted by the
\ngovernment and even President Megawati Soekarnoputri herself was
\nready to declare the forest a national park.<\/p>\n
The inauguration ceremony, to be led by President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, was set for Friday last week, but it was canceled
\nindefinitely. The reason behind the cancellation was unclear.<\/p>\n
Having declared the forest a national park or conservation
\narea, the government can lawfully arrest and prosecute illegal
\nloggers who fell trees or hunt rare species in the area.<\/p>\n
Separately, chief of the mining office of the North Sumatra
\nadministration Washington Tambunan confirmed that the company was
\ngranted the mining license in 1998.<\/p>\n
Under the contract, the company is allowed to mine gold in the
\narea for 40 years and it can be extended.<\/p>\n
The contract was left in limbo in 1999, after the government
\nand the House of Representative agreed to issue a law that
\nprohibited companies from operating in protected forests.<\/p>\n
But, the government issued a decree in-lieu of law early this
\nyear to allow all companies that signed mining contracts before
\n1998 to continue mining activities in their respective areas.<\/p>\n
PT SM is a joint venture company, with some 70 percent of its
\nshares owned by Australian businessmen.<\/p>\n
Despite the protest, Washington believed that the company
\nwould preserve the environment. \"They are bound by the contract
\nto help preserve the environment. I believe they will honor it,
\notherwise we will terminate the contract,\" he said.<\/p>\n
B. Thomas, a senior geologist at the company, asserted that
\nthe company would still operate in the area, despite the protest.<\/p>\n
He said that the company had been awarded the contract, and
\nall parties concerned in Indonesia had to honor the contract.<\/p>\n
He added that the company had spent US$3.6 million on
\nexploration alone.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5gadis-1447899208",
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