People's mining association demands a greater opportunity

The people's mining association (Aspera) demands the South Kalimantan administration to provide a greater opportunity to exploit the province's mining potential.

Aspera secretary general Syamsul Daulah also demanded on Monday the government to drop the coal mining controlling team, which only prioritize the interest of foreign coal mining companies than the local traditional miners.

"If foreign mining companies can operate here, why should the people be barred from mining its own land," Syamsul was quoted by the Republika daily as saying.

Syamsul criticized the government for allowing foreign firms to be able to control up to 100,000 ha of mining sites in the province.

"The indigenous people have been a miner since they're born," he said.

Meanwhile, the director general of mining Surna T. Djajadiningrat said he could not yet comment on the Aspera demand because he was not sure of the case. But he said that he would talk this over with the South Kalimantan Governor today (Tuesday).(*)