Mining companies play a part in violations of human rights: NGOs

International mining companies operating in Indonesia also have their shares in the violations of human rights carried out by the government?s security apparatus in mining sites in the country, according to a statement made by local human rights activists as reported by Kompas daily on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the director of non-governmental organization Impartial, Munir, said that the security funds contributed by mining companies to the Indonesian army and police had indirectly contributed to the violations of human rights.

According to Munir, the security funds which were given to the security forces were mostly used to protect the mining companies from local residents? reactions due to the loss they suffered from the activities of the mining companies.

"It is clear that the security funds were given to legitimate violations of human rights on the people," he was quoted as saying.

Impartial and 10 other non-governmental organizations including mining advocacy network (Jatam) met to ask the House of Representatives (DPR) to question millions of U.S. dollar of security funds contributed by PT Freeport Indonesia to help finance security and order activities of the army and police in the mining site.

Munir acknowledged that mining companies were parts of the country?s important assets that should be protected. But the activities of the army and police in protecting the mining companies should be financed by the state budget not by the mining companies. (*)