Legislator warns Inco to take public complaint seriously

Head of the House of Representatives commission VIII on mining and energy Irwan Prayitno warned at the weekend nickel mining firm PT Inco to take seriously the demands and protest of the local people in the Soroako area in South Sulawesi.

Irwan was quoted by the Republika daily as saying that Inco might risk suffering the case of Newmont if the company failed to handle the public protest effectively.

Newmont is a gold mining firm in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, which had been ordered by the local Tondano Court to be closed down.

Irwan said that the local people had complained of environmental destruction by Inco, and discrimination in job recruitment. The public is demanding the government to review the Inco mining contract.

Indonesia's mining sector is facing a serious change as the local regional government is starting to exercise its greater authority to be provided by the new autonomy law. (*)