Legislators say no to mining in protected forests<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Most legislators deliberating a government regulation in lieu of
\nlaw, or perpu, on mining have expressed their opposition to a
\nruling that allows 13 mining firms operating in protected forests
\nto continue their operations.<\/p>\n
Herman Widyananda, chairman of the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) committee deliberating the perpu, however, said that they
\nwould still seek inputs from cabinet ministers, researchers, and
\nnon-governmental organizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
\"Almost all legislators question the issuance of the perpu,\"
\nHerman told The Jakarta Post after the committee's internal
\nmeeting here.<\/p>\n
The House is expected to issue its final statement on the
\nperpu on July 15, just one day before it goes into recess.<\/p>\n
The House has started its deliberation of Perpu No. 1\/2004,
\nwhich stipulates that all mining contracts signed before Law No.
\n41\/1999 on forestry came into effect are valid for the remainder
\nof their terms.<\/p>\n
Complementing the perpu, President Megawati Soekarnoputri also
\nissued a decree on May 12, 2004 allowing 13 mining companies to
\nresume operations in protected forests.<\/p>\n
Law No. 14\/1999, which bans open-pit mining activities in
\nprotected forests, prompts several mining companies to suspend
\ntheir operations.<\/p>\n
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro
\nhad previously warned of legal repercussions should Indonesia
\nfail to honor its mining contracts.<\/p>\n
Several NGOs had also rejected the perpu, saying that it would
\nonly justify forest destruction.<\/p>\n
They alleged that Indonesia's forests had been decreasing by
\nabout 3.8 million hectares per year, causing the state to lose
\nsome Rp 30 trillion annually.<\/p>\n
Article 22 of the newly amended Constitution stipulates that
\nthe President may issue a perpu in an emergency situation. The
\nperpu, however, must win approval from a House plenary meeting,
\notherwise it will be revoked.<\/p>\n
Legislator Andas P. Tanri of the House's forestry commission
\nsaid that his commission had officially rejected the issuance of
\nthe regulation.<\/p>\n
The perpu was issued when a team consisting of legislators and
\nofficials from the forestry ministry and the energy and mineral
\nresource ministry was carrying out research on mining activities
\nin forest areas.<\/p>\n
\"The interests of the forestry ministry and the energy and
\nmineral resource ministry are different. They fail to harmonize
\ntheir conflicting goals,\" Andas added.<\/p>\n
He said that the government regulation was invalid if the
\nHouse rejected it.<\/p>\n
Herman, meanwhile, added that as of Wednesday, the House
\ncommittee would hear inputs from Coordinating Minister for the
\nEconomy Dorodjatun Kuntjorojakti, Minister of Forestry M.
\nPrakosa, Purnomo, environmental groups, research centers, and
\nenvironmental law expert Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri.<\/p>\n
The 13 mining companies:<\/p>\n
Name Area Concession<\/p>\n
1. Freeport Indonesia Mimika, Papua 10,000 ha<\/p>\n
Freeport Indonesia Puncak Jayawijaya, Papua 202,380 ha<\/p>\n
2. Karimun Granit Riau 2,761 ha<\/p>\n
3. INCO Sulawesi (North Luwu, Kolaka, Kendari, Morowali 218,828 ha<\/p>\n
4. Indominco Mandiri East Kutai, E. Kalimantan 25,121 ha<\/p>\n
5. Aneka Tambang North Maluku 39,040 ha<\/p>\n
6. Natarang Mining Lampung 12,790 ha<\/p>\n
7. Nusa Halmahera Mineral North Maluku 29,622 ha<\/p>\n
8. Pelsart Tambang Kencana South Kalimantan 201,000 ha<\/p>\n
9. Interex Sacra Raya East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan 15,860 ha<\/p>\n
10. Weda Bay Nickel Central Halmahera, North Maluku 76,280 ha<\/p>\n
11. Gag Nikel Sorong, Papua 13,130 ha<\/p>\n
12. Sorikmas Mining North Sumatra 66,200 ha<\/p>\n
13. Aneka Tambang Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi 14,570 ha<\/p>\n
Source: The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-say-no-to-mining-in-protected-forests-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }