Local governments urged to help curb protests against mining firms

A senior government official has urged local administrations to play a more active role in minimizing protests held by villagers against mining firms operating in their areas.

"Provincial administrations should do more to reduce such protests," Geology and Mineral Resources Director General Simon Felix Sembiring told Petromindo.com.

Simon said that mining investors had carried out special programs of improving the lifestyle of people in their areas of operation and that there was no reason for local communities to demand too much from mining companies.

The number of protest held by villagers against mining companies has increased in different provinces over the past months.

Last month alone, at least three protests by local villagers were reported in south Kalimantan and Riau.

In South Kalimantan, hundreds of villagers blockaded the hauling road of coalminer Adaro Indonesia, demanding the firm to pay compensation for damages allegedly caused by the company's operation. Their action caused Adaro temporarily stop its operation and declared a force majeure.

Dozens of villagers attempted to raid the office coalminer Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku and its mining activities in Sebuku Island in South Kalimantan. This situation forced the company to temporarily stop its operation.

Meanwhile, Kedung Jaya villagers in West Java's Bekasi regency blockaded the access road to the oil well of state oil and gas firm Pertamina to protest the company's refusal to repair the road seriously damaged by the operation of Pertamina's heavy trucks.

Numerous protests against mining companies have occurred in different parts of Indonesia over the past few years following the country's reforms euphoria. (Godang)