Govt says mining on Sebuku Island does not cause pollution

The government on Saturday dismissed allegations that coal mining activities had caused environmental damages to South Kalimantan's Sebuku Island.

"I have just sent a letter to the South Kalimantan governor telling him that such allegations are groundless," Geology and Mineral Resources Director General Simon S. Sembiring told Petromindo.com on Saturday.

Tribal people from Sebuku, which is part of Kota Baru Regency, a week ago started performing a traditional ritual called Tidara to show their opposition to coalmining activities carried out by PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku which is majority owned by Australian firm Straits Resources Limited.

During the ritual, the people called for the help of the spirits of their ancestors to stop coal mining activities on the island and unite them for the cause. They claimed ownership over the mining site.

Simon said on Saturday that the State Minister of Environment had dispatched a team of experts to Sebuku and that the team had found no environmental pollution on the island.

He suspected that some non-governmental organizations had incited the Sebuku people to perform the tribal ritual. (Godang)