Mining in protected forests rejected<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A group of environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO)
\nlashed out on Friday at the government for permitting 13 mining
\ncompanies to resume activities in protected forests through the
\nissuance of a regulation in lieu of law, or perpu.<\/p>\n
The 10 NGOs grouped under the NGO Coalition Against Mining in
\nProtected Forests said the policy, issued as a government
\nregulation in lieu of law, would only justify forest devastation.<\/p>\n
The coalition said they would file for a judicial review of
\nthe regulation at the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n
Longgena Ginting, executive director of the Indonesian Forum
\nfor the Environment (Walhi), and Indro Sugianto, the executive
\ndirector of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL)
\nsaid the regulation proved the government's poor commitment to
\nthe environment.<\/p>\n
\"Our environment is in a terrible condition. The new
\nregulation will only worsen it,\" Longgena said.<\/p>\n
A perpu is as powerful as a law but, as it goes into effect
\nimmediately without requiring endorsement from the House of
\nRepresentatives, it is usually issued in cases of emergency.
\nHowever, the government must notify the House of the perpu.<\/p>\n
The Megawati administration issued the first perpu on
\nantiterrorism shortly after the Bali bombings in October 2002.<\/p>\n
Longgena wondered why the government did not perceive the
\nimportance of environmental conversation after the series of
\nrecent natural disasters that had claimed hundreds of lives, and
\nsaid the government had put investment and business interests
\nahead of forest conservation by issuing the new regulation.<\/p>\n
Perpu No. 1\/2004 addresses the issue of mining concessions
\nthat overlap protected forest areas and supersedes Law No.
\n41\/1999 on forestry, which banned open-pit mining in protected
\nforests.<\/p>\n
Article 83(A) of Perpu No. 1\/2004, a copy of which was made
\navailable to The Jakarta Post, stipulates that all licenses and
\ncontracts on mining affairs in forests made before the enactment
\nof the Forestry Law are valid for the remainder of the original
\nterm of the license or contract.<\/p>\n
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro
\nhad previously warned of legal repercussions if Indonesia failed
\nto honor the mining contracts.<\/p>\n
Siti Maimunah, coordinator of the Network for Mining Advocacy,
\nconcurred that there was no reasonable motive behind the new
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
She added that its issuance could offend the House because it
\nhad never been discussed with legislators.<\/p>\n
Separately, legislator Muhammad Askin revealed that House
\nCommission VIII for environmental affairs had told the government
\nto carry out a study on the possibilities of opening mining
\nactivities in protected forests.<\/p>\n
\"The perpu was issued while the government has not yet
\nfinished its study. So I think the House will not approve it,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-
\nJakti said on Thursday that the 13 mining companies would be
\nallowed to resume their mining activities because they had proven
\nreserves and were economically viable.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mining-in-protected-forests-rejected-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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