Stone mining damages environment

Stone mining damages environment

BOGOR: The intensified stone mining at Munara Hill, Rumpin
district, Bogor regency, has caused environmental damage in the
30-hectare mine site and surrounding area, and has threatened the
existence of 200 white monkeys.

"The mining has made the land infertile, and the operators cut
down our trees. Besides, with 500 trucks passing through our
village, the air is heavily polluted," complained Komariah, 46, a
resident of Sawah village.

Villagers also said that they had not seen any white monkeys
in the forest since 1997, when the mining operation started.

Environmentalist Didi Furqon Firdaus, who is also the leader
of the Center for Environmental Care (PFPL), said there were
currently 15 stone mining operators in the district, each digging
within a six-hectare area.

"We are really disappointed that the mining operation has
taken over an area that is supposed to be a tourism resort, under
Government Regulation No. 114/1997," he said.

Didi also regretted that most operators did not reclaim the
land to maintain water sources in the area nor to develop a
sustainable environment. -- JP

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Greater-party-flags
Party flags ordered to be removed
JP/8/flag

Party flags ordered to be removed

JAKARTA: City Governor Sutiyoso set Saturday as the deadline
for the city's five mayors and the Thousands Islands regent to
ensure their areas were free of political party flags or banners.

"I have asked the mayors and regent to clean up their areas by
Saturday at the latest; they've already had a week," he said on
Wednesday, as quoted by official city website beritajakarta.com.

Sutiyoso emphasized that the flying of party flags and banners
across the city had violated orders.

"The parties should have sought the governor's permission to
display flags or banners on major thoroughfares. They should
remember that this is not the campaigning season," he said.

Campaigning will start in early March, prior to the
legislative election in April. The direct presidential election
will take place in two phases, in July and September. -- JP

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Greater-Bogor
300 raps reelection of Bogor regent
JP/8/g-rally

300 rap reelection of Bogor regent

BOGOR: At least 300 people staged a rally on Friday in front
of the Bogor Regency Council, urging the council not to reelect
Regent Agus Utara Effendi.

The protesters grouped under the Bogor People and Students
Alliance expressed their demand through speeches delivered from a
Kijang truck.

The same group visited the council on Monday and clashed with
police officers who blocked them from entering the council
building. Several protesters were injured.

The election will contested by several pairs of candidates for
the positions of regent and deputy regent: incumbent regent Agus
and running mate councillor Albert Pribadi of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan); council chairman
Endang Kosasih and Depok mayoralty secretary M. Harris; chief of
the regency's investment board Iyus Juher and PDIP faction chief
Karyawan Faturrahman. -- Antara