Ten NGOs to file lawsuit against Indo Muro Kencana
Thursday, March 2 2000 - 04:30 AM WIB
At least 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) plan to file a lawsuit against gold mining firm PT Indo Muro Kencana (IMK) for various violations and failure to fulfill its obligations, according to an NGO activist.
Head of local NGO Yayasan Bina Sumber Daya (YBSD) N.J. Udang, who had been accused of provoking the local people to occupy the mining site of IMF in the Muara Teweh area, North Barito regency in Central Kalimantan Province, said that nine other NGOs would join his to make the lawsuit on March 10.
He said that the NGOs would fight for the cultural rights of the local people and the financial losses suffered by the people since 1987. He added that the company also only provided a very small compensation to take the land of the people.
Udang also rejected allegations that he was provoking the people to occupy the mining site of IMK, arguing that he was merely representing the interest of some 2,400 people who have asked YSBD to fight for their rights.
IMK has called on the government to immediately resolve the occupation of its mining site by thousand of people or the Indonesian-Australian joint venture operation might have to stop.(*)