Minister, Legislators warns of anti-mining movement

Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that there were indications that strong anti-mining operation in Indonesia sponsored by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the United States and Australia.

Susilo Bambang said that the government and the House of Representatives should understand clearly when there were conflicts between a mining firm with local people, whether those conflicts were instigated by those NGOs or pure demands from locals.

Therefore, the minister called on local NGOs to be aware also, and not be easily bought out by foreign NGOs that had their own special missions in Indonesia.

He said that the mining industry was actually very potential to contribute the badly needed foreign exchange to the government, if this industry is managed properly without causing environmental destruction and conflicts with local people.

In the hearing with the minister on Wednesday, legislator Yulius Bobo and Bambang Soeparto supported the minister and called on all components in the country to be aware of those anti-mining campaign.

"We must be vigilant against that movement, so that our domestic income is secured, while at the same time we minimize impacts of mining on the environment," Yulius Bobo said.

Besides anti-mining movement, Bambang Susilo also warned over the continuing conflicts between mining firms and local people. He noted that those conflicts were precipitated by the crisis that sent many people to below poverty line. Therefore, he called on all parties, including mining companies to restrain from any move that could provoke conflicts. (*)