Foreign movement suspected behind mining protests

Foreign movement suspected behind mining protests

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono has blamed the involvement of an "international
movement" on growing protests against Indonesian mining
operations.

The minister said here on Friday that the international
movement used old land disputes, the environment and wage issues
as means to provoke local residents or workers to carry out
hostile action against the mining companies.

"There is a suspicion of the involvement of an international
antimining movement behind the growing conflicts in mining
operations," he said.

The retired three-star general did not name the group but said
the body usually used old conflicts and environmental issues to
provoke local residents and workers with the main purpose of
closing down the country's major mining operations.

Bambang said he was always hearing complaints of such
movements during his visits to various mining operations across
Indonesia. "It's a covert movement, through the use of pamphlets,
with the aim of stopping mining operations," he told reporters at
his office.

Bambang said that most of the demands made by the locals from
the mining companies were old issues which had been settled years
ago.

This phenomenon, he said, occurred at the same time and nearly
everywhere. "This indicates something planned and organized," he
said.

Bambang was referring to conflicts at gold mining operator PT
Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi and coal mining firm PT
Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) and gold mining company PT Kelian
Equatorial Mining (KEM), both in East Kalimantan.

Local residents have demanded that Newmont and KEM pay more
compensation for land acquired by the mining firms during the
early years of their operations. The companies refused to comply
with the demand as the compensation payment had been settled a
long time ago. The operations of the two companies were halted
for several days after the residents blocked access roads to
their mining areas.

Newmont managed to strike a deal last month while KEM is still
edging toward a final settlement, although the blockade has
already been lifted.

Unlike the two companies, KPC has been forced to halt its coal
mining operations due to the protests not by the villagers but
its workers, who demanded, among other things, a 15 percent
salary increase.

The workers went on strike in mid June and have since forced
KPC to shut its operation by occupying the company's mining
plant.

KPC had to halt its operation twice in five weeks due to
faltering negotiations with the striking workers, but a senior
government official said on Friday that talks had resumed.

Another frequent issue, brought up by many non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), concerns alleged environmental damage that
mining companies were causing.

These organization charge mining companies with poisoning the
environment with their mining waste material, which destroys
local ecosystems and causes health problems to residents nearby.

Among the vocal NGOs is the Indonesian Forum for Environment
(Walhi), which has taken a stern position against several major
mining operations here, including giant gold mining company PT
Freeport Indonesia.

According to Bambang, the key to solving disputes with locals
lied in the role and the willingness of the local government to
facilitate and mediate negotiations.

"In addition, companies should be willing to engage in
dialogue with their surrounding communities, while security
forces should uphold the law in cases of security disturbances,"
he added. (bkm)