Sebuku people holds traditional ritual to stop coal mining

People of Sebuku Island, Kota Baru regency, South Kalimantan and the province's association of traditional society had started a tribal ritual against mining business which they accused of causing environmental damage, Kompas daily reported on Monday.

During the ritual, called Tidara, they call for the help of the spirits of their ancestors to stop coal mining activities on the island and unite them for the cause, the paper said.

Head of South Kalimantan's association of traditinoal society (Permada) Zonzon Masre said the association and the Sebuku people gave coal contractor on the island until Monday to stop their mining activities and leave their ancestors? land.

?If the company does not respond to the ultimatum, Permada and Sebuku people will take stern action in their own way," Zonzon said.

The paper did not name the company but the government's data say the Sebuku coal mine is owned by PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku, which is 80 percent owned by Australian firm Straits Resources Limited and 20 percent by PT Reyka Wahana Digdjaya. (*)