Sand mining company to sue administration<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Serang<\/p>\n
PT Jet Star quarrying and excavation company has threatened to
\ntake legal action against the Serang regency in Banten province
\nafter the decision by administration officials to revoke a sand
\nexcavation permit in the Java Sea off of Tirtayasa.<\/p>\n
The area lies nearest the coastal village of Lontar, about 60
\nkilometers west of the Soekarno-Hatta International airport.<\/p>\n
Company President Henry Hartono said on Sunday that the permit
\nrevocation had caused his company losses exceeding Rp 600 million
\n(US$69,364) per day since quarrying was halted on May 6.<\/p>\n
\"The revocation has no legal basis. It's only based on the
\npeople's protests,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 fishermen who work in the waters near the site
\nprotested the activity last week complaining of massive
\nenvironmental damage and the killing of fish in the area.<\/p>\n
Henry complained that his company was losing a lot of money,
\nmostly from the rental fees for three dredging ships from PT
\nRukindo. It must also pay penalties to its clients for its
\ninability to supply the sand as stated in business agreements.<\/p>\n
In a related twist, Aldy Marjoto of quarrying company PT Bumi
\nAyu Tirtayasa had previously accused PT Jet Star of bribing the
\nadministration officials to extend its permit up to February
\n2005. He named the Serang regent and a group of councillors among
\nthe recipients of the bribes.<\/p>\n
Henry strongly denied the accusations. Instead, he accused
\nAldy of organizing the protests so the latter's firm would have
\nless competition.<\/p>\n
\"I prefer to take the case to court to have legal certainty,\"
\nHenry added.<\/p>\n
Henry claimed that \"the majority of people\" in Lontar village
\nsupported the sand excavation near their village because they
\ngained benefits from it. He believes the protesters came from
\nother villages.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sand-mining-company-to-sue-administration-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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