NGOs file for review of mining law

NGOs file for review of mining law

JAKARTA: An alliance of non-governmental organizations
appealed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to review a new
government regulation that allows mining in protected forests.

The Indonesian Environment Forum (Walhi), Forest Watch
Indonesia, Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) and Natural Resources
Law Institute (Ihsa) are among the applicants.

Harry Alexander of Ihsa, accompanied by Walhi executive
director Longgena Ginting, said the regulation allowed firms to
carry out open-pit mining in protected forest, thus violating
prevailing laws.

The regulation also shifted the authority to approve the
utilization of forest for strategic needs from the House of
Representatives to the president, he said.

Any lower rulings must not add, reduce, or modify the content
of higher regulations, he said. --JP