Press Release: Government closes down illegal gold mining within KEM?s lease
Monday, February 18 2002 - 03:25 AM WIB
SENDAWAR ? A team from the Kutai Barat District government has continued an operation to close down illegal alluvial gold mining operations located within the mining lease of PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) on Saturday (16/2). The team has since July 2001 conducted socialisation programmes to persuade the illegal miners to stop their operations but failed.
The operation involves a team from Kutai Barat Government, policemen and other personnel led by Drs Johannes Wehen. The team started their operation by advising the illegal miners about government intention to close down the alluvial gold mining operation as it is against Law No. 11 of 1967 regarding illegal mining and District Head Decree No. 540 of 2001 regarding the instruction to close down all illegal mining activities in Kutai Barat. The team then instructed the miners to stop their operation and to vacate the area.
The operations have been successful. Approximately 60% of illegal miners have now moved off site or downstream. Pemkab team has also demolished vacated huts. The operations will continue until all miners moved and huts are removed.
?KEM welcomes government legal action against illegal alluvial miners which operate within our contract of work. However, we also request that this will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the laws of Indonesia and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,? said Charlie Lenegan, President Director of PT KEM.
Background
Illegal alluvial mining activities started to enter KEM?s mine lease in November 2000. On 5 February 2002, there were 565 illegal alluvial miners using 63 pumps and living in 352 huts.
The alluvial mining operation has posed KEM and local communities with security and environmental issues. The alluvial mining also threatens KEM?s operations the alluvial mining has impacted KEM?s raw water source for the process plant.
KEM?s position has been to refer the resolution of the illegal mining issue to Kutai Barat Government and the community. (*)