S. Kalimantan authority not aware of Perpu No1/2004

The head of the forestry office of South Kalimantan, Sony Partono admitted that the province's authority was not aware that the House of Representatives (DPR) had approved the government's proposed regulation in lieu of law (Perpu No1/2004) which would pave the way for resumption of mining operations in the province's protected forests, Kompas reported on Wednesday.

Two of the 13 mining companies which would be allowed to resume their operations in protected forests include PT Pelsart Tambang Kencana and PT Interex Sacra Raya, which both operate in the province's conservation area.

Sony said that the decision to allow the operation of the mining companies in protected forests was not fair. "In the past, our proposal to convert part of the province's conservation area into a limited productive forest was rejected. But, now the proposal to change the protected forests into mining site was approved," he said.

The new forestry law introduced by the government two years ago prohibits open-fit mining operations in protected forests. This law has drawn controversies because many mining concession areas awarded to mining companies overlap with the protected forests. As a result many mining companies have been forced to halt their operation. (*)