Walhi, Jatam downplay miners? arbitrary threat

Influential environmental organization Walhi and the mining network Jatam downplayed the threat made by a number of mining companies to take the Indonesian government to the international arbitrary body for what they said as unilaterally breaking their contracts of works.

The two organizations said that the government should not worry about the threat, which they termed as an intimidation and immoral acts. They also believe that taking the government to the arbitrary body would backfire the mining companies themselves.

A number of mining companies have threatened to take the Indonesian government to the international arbitrary agency for banning them from developing parts of their mining areas, which according to the new forestry law, are part of forest conservation areas.

The new forestry law which was issued in 1999 but was only enforced recently prohibits open-mining activities on protected forests. Many mining companies? concession areas occupy parts of forest conservation areas. (*)