South Kalimantan Governor vows to honor mining contracts

South Kalimantan Governor Sjahriel Darham vowed on Thursday to honor the existing contracts of mining companies operating in the province even after the province obtain its regional autonomy status next year.

Sjahril made the comments in response to increasing demand to redistribute the mining sites, which had not been exploited by the companies to the local traditional miners after the province, obtain the autonomy status.

Sjahril was quoted by the local Banjarmasin Post daily as saying that the government must honor the contracts with the foreign mining companies until they're expired.

"We must protect their investment here. It's an international contract which must be honored," he said. (*)