Kalimantan group complains over Australian-RI mining
Kalimantan group complains over Australian-RI mining
JAKARTA (JP): Kalimantan natives have urged the National
Commission on Human Rights to help them get compensation for
property taken from them for mining projects.
A delegation of the indigenous Kalimantan people also told
commission members here Tuesday the activities of four large-
scale mining companies were degrading the environment.
Accompanied by Jakarta-based environmental activists, the
delegation from East, Central and South Kalimantan was met by
commission members Koesparmono Irsan and Mohamad Salim.
The natives listed numerous rights allegedly violated by the
companies, the Indonesia-Australia joint ventures PT Indo Muro
Kencana in Central Kalimantan, PT Kelian Equatorial Mining and PT
Kaltim Prima Coal in East Kalimantan, and PT Adaro Indonesia in
South Kalimantan.
"Those four big mining companies have denied us our basic
rights by acquiring our property without giving proper
compensation and taking away our sources of livelihood," they
said in a joint-statement.
"They change our culture and intimidate people who stand firm
to fight for their rights," they said.
Amsyah, representing people of Sanggata village in East
Kalimantan, claimed that PT Kaltim Prima Coal, which controls
790,000 hectares of land, had appropriated the land without
paying any compensation in 1989.
In 1990, the company claimed another 32,35 hectares of shrimp
ponds for storing coal, also without compensation, Amsyah told
the commission.
The same company grabbed 247 hectares of people's plantations
worth about Rp 900 million (US$395,000) in 1993, again without
offering any compensation.
Meanwhile, another member of the delegation, Syamsuri from
Hulu Sungai Utara, South Kalimantan, said that besides
"relocating people without adequate compensation," coal mining
company PT Adaro Indonesia had polluted a number of rivers used
by locals.
Syamsuri also claimed the mud resulting from mining activities
ruined the villagers' paddy fields.
"The company continues evicting villagers although the dispute
over compensation is still far from over," he said. People
refused the offered compensation because they considered it too
small, he added.
He claimed he was jabbed in the eye by a village chief for
questioning the government policy on the project. His eye is
permanently disabled, he added.
The delegation demanded the commission help supervise mining
activities in the province and pressure the companies to pay
attention to the environment in their operations.
They also called on the commission to urge the companies to
settle the disputes with local people without involving security
forces.
Koesparmono and Salim promised the delegation they would look
into their complaints. (08)