NGOs continue to reject two gold mining firms in East Java

Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the high profile Walhi continue to reject plans by two gold mining firms PT Jember Metals and PT Banyuwangi Minerals to operate in Jember and Banyuwangi, East Java.

The two gold mining firms are owned by Indonesian mining investor Jusuf Merukh.

In a joint press statement, the NGOs called on the administration and the councilor of Jember and Banyuwangi districts to cancel the license given to the two mining companies on grounds that their operation would cause serious damage to the Meru Betiri National Park.

The NGOs have also dubbed PT Jember Metals and PT Banyuwangi Minerals as fictitious firms because they had not obtained license from the ministry of energy and mineral resources in Jakarta and were neither listed at the provincial office of the ministry.

Reports said earlier that the two mining companies tries to make a bypass by asking the Jember and Banyuwangi districts to provide the license without the approval from Jakarta.

But experts said that such a move could only be possible when the regional autonomy policy is implemented early next year when district and provincial administration would have greater power in managing their own natural resources.

Meanwhile, Jember Regent Syamsulhadi Siswoyo claimed in an earlier report as saying that his office had not issued any mining license to Jember Metals. Speaking in a meeting with the local councilor, Syamsulhadi said that he would not be in hurry to issue the license and would study it carefully because the mining operation was within the Meru Betiri National Park. (R. Amoros)