Poboya Forest Park may not be transferred into mining area
Saturday, April 28 2001 - 04:30 AM WIB
Environmental analyst from Tadulaku University in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Natsir Abbas, said that the Central Sulawesi administration must uphold the environmental law by taking measures against mining company PT Citra Palu Mineral that has mined for gold in the Poboya Forest Park.
PT CPM is 90 percent owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.
Natsir said that the function of the Poboya Forest Park might not be changed from its original function to protect the environment. "That means that the boundary of the Poboya Forest Park may not be changed to accommodate any interest, including for gold mining activities by PT CPM that has secured mining license from the central government."
He said the Central Sulawesi administration would have strong legal grounds if it wants to take legal actions against CPM, including Law No. 5/1990 on environmental protection, the forestry ministerial decree and the traditional acknowledgment from local people.
"This is a challenge for the provincial administration and if the PT CPM case is not solved once and for all quickly based on the existing laws, I'm afraid similar cases will emerge in Central Sulawesi," he said.
Supporting Natsir's argument, the head of the Central Sulawesi Environmental Conservation Center (BKSDA), MZ Hudiyono, said: "If the change of the forest park functions goes ahead, the law must prevails."
Earlier, the Indonesian Environmental Forum's (Walhi) Central Sulawesi branch urged the provincial administration to take legal proceeding against PT CPM because the company had conducted gold mining exploitation in the areas inside the Poboya Forest Park.
CPM, that secured central government mining license No. B-143/Pres/3/1997 dated April 28, 1998, has conducted some mining activities in its concession areas, some of which are allegedly located inside the Poboya Forest Park.
The Poboya Forest Park covers a total area of 8,1000 hectares, spreading in a number of villages in Palu, Central Sulawesi, including Poboya, Tondo and Ngata Baru. About 500 hectares of Poboya Forest Park contain gold reserves of up to 60 tons of gold ore. (*)