Sebuku people demand the reclamation of mines

The people on Sebuku island in South Kalimantan protested against coalminer PT. Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku for damaging the local environment. They demanded abandoned coal mines must be reclaimed with trees immediately, Kompas newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The villagers from Blambus, Mandin and Kanibungan, all in Kotabaru regency on Sebuku island, sent a letter of protest in this regard on Tuesday to the President, minister of energy and mineral resources, minister of manpower and transmigration and other local authorities and a copy of the letter also made available to Kompas.

Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku is a subsidiary of Australian mining firm Straits Resources Limited. The firm produces around 2 millions per annum of coal.

Besides the environmental issue, they also objected in their letter to the hiring of expatriate staff by the operator of the mines for the jobs which can be done by the locals .

There is no reason, according to the villagers, to employ up to seven expatriates by the company. Big mining firms are already using the local staff for each and every job.

The villagers claimed that the company had not performed its duties regarding community development and reclamation.

The Kanibungan village head Abidin Taher said the mining firm had caused damage to the local river and the mangrove forest. (*)