NGOs opposes gold and copper mining plan in Jember

At least 36 non-governmental organizations have expressed their opposition against a plan to develop copper and gold mining in Jember regency, East Java, Koran Tempo reported on Wednesday.

The NGOs grouped in an alliance for democracy and environment said that the plan to develop the mining on the regency should be cancelled because it would only bring a harm to the society.

?The mining project will only benefit the investors,? the group?s leader said.

The group said that the mining project, which would also include part of the protected Meru Betu forest, would also damage the local environment.

The regency?s legislative council plans to hold a seminar to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of the mining development in the area. But the NGOs said that the seminar would be held only to justify the regency?s plan to issue mining permit to several local companies to develop the gold and copper mining in the area.

Several local companies including PT Jember Metal, which is owned by Yusuf Merukh, one of the owner of several gold mining companies including Newmont Nusa Tenggara, is waiting for a license from the local government to develop copper and gold mining in the regency. (*)