Central Sulawesi DPRD Expresses Disappointment Over Meeting Between CPM and Poboya Customary Leaders

Palu (ANTARA) - Commission III of the Central Sulawesi DPRD (provincial legislature) has acknowledged its disappointment regarding a meeting held between PT Citra Palu Mineral (CPM), Poboya customary leaders and community representatives in Jakarta.

“We should not have wanted to hold this public hearing today, because we were offended that you went and made an agreement without notifying us as members of the DPRD and the government,” said Commission III Chairwoman Arnila H Moh Ali during a Public Hearing (RDP) with PT CPM and the Poboya mining-area community (MLTP) at the Central Sulawesi DPRD offices in Palu on Monday.

She cautioned that the meeting should serve as a lesson and that greater care should be exercised in future. According to her, when problems arise the community approaches the Central Sulawesi DPRD, yet when making an agreement, the community departed without informing the legislature.

“When you make an agreement without it being witnessed by the government, that agreement may or may not be legally valid,” she said.

She stressed that the DPRD’s involvement would allow it to provide advice and input, as well as serve as a witness should either party fail to honour any agreement reached.

The public hearing addressed two key points: the request to reduce PT CPM’s contract of work (KK) area by 246 hectares and the designation of a People’s Mining Area (WPR).

An alternative option discussed was a partnership arrangement between the community and the company, as a form of legal certainty for artisanal miners to carry out their activities in a lawful and orderly manner.

CPM President Director Damar Kusumato revealed that four points of agreement would be followed up in the wake of the meeting.

CPM demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of the mining-area community through a policy prioritising local labour as well as structured corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community development (PPM) programmes.

Additionally, CPM has received a draft cooperation proposal submitted by the Poboya mining-area community (MLTP).