Unrestrained mining endangering forests

Unrestrained mining endangering forests

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A coalition of environmental groups here urged the government to
withdraw licenses given to mining companies that plan to operate
in around one-fifth of the country's protected forests and
conservation areas.

The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also blasted the
mining companies for their efforts to force the government to
change several regulations in order to legalize their operations.

"They have urged the government to revise Law No. 41/1999 on
forestry which has hampered their investment. They want the
status of the forests to be changed from protected forests into
forest concessions," Chalid Muhammad from the Network of Advocacy
for People's Mines (JATAM) told a media briefing last week.

Chalid did not reveal the names of those mining companies.

The mining companies have threatened to sue Indonesia through
an international arbitrator should the government refuse to open
the 11.4 million hectares of protected forest for new operations
in Sumatra, Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara islands,
Maluku islands and Irian Jaya. Around 150 mining companies have
explored the area.

Longgena Ginting of the Indonesian Forum for Environment
(Walhi) pointed out the current mining sites have reached more
than 35 percent of Indonesia's mainland and have largely
responsible for environmental destruction in the country.

The endangered areas include protected forest in Gag-Papua
island, Poboya-Paneki forest in Central Sulawesi and Meru Betiri
National Park in Jember, East Java. -- JP