Mining association protests plans by German investor to enter South Kalimantan coal mining
Friday, November 17 2000 - 05:30 AM WIB
Head of the association of traditional mingers (Aspera) Endang Kusumayadi expressed protest on Thursday against the decision of South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham and Kotabaru Regent Sjachrani for inviting German investors to open coal mining activity in the Pulau Laut area in Kotabaru district.
The local Kapos daily quoted Endang as saying that the local administration had initially ruled that the Pulau Laut area was closed to mining operation.
But he said that when the two government officials visited the World Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, the Pulau Laut area was offered to the foreign investors.
Endang said that Aspera had initially demanded the government to let them mine the 10,871 ha area, but it was rejected because the area was allocated as a forest conservation area.
He said that the coal mining area was initially controlled by coal mining firm PT Arutmin Indonesia, but was it returned to the government because of the above policy.
"The government is not consistent with its policy ? the people will be deeply disappointed," Endang said. (*)