Walhi slams Adaro and Arutmin
Friday, August 18 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The Indonesian Environmental Forum's (Walhi) South Kalimantan branch has accused coal miners PT Adaro Indonesia and PT Arutmin Indonesia for causing disaster for local people.
Walhi's S. Kalimantan branch coordinator Sunarti said on Tuesday that that tens of hectares of farming fields in Tapin district were inundated by waters that prevented farmers from doing farming activities.
In addition, the people's wells in Muara Satui village, Kotabaru district, were polluted by coals, and therefore, were not safe for consumption.
Besides, about 2 square kilometers of the people's lands in Muara Satui slide down because of the coal mining activities.
Sunarti said when investors stopped operation one day because of the depleting coal reserves, local people would suffer most because of the environmental destruction the mining activities would have caused.
She said that Andaro and Arutmin must first of all improve their environmental management and improve the community development as their social responsibility to local people.
Therefore, Sunarti called on the South Kalimantan administration not to add more mining concessions for the two companies as their current operations had already caused suffering to local people. She also demanded the administration to task an independent audit on the two companies.
She also called on the administration to stop mining activities on small islands, including on Sabuku Island, in the Meratus mountain range and in lands traditionally controlled by local people.
Spokesmen for both Andaro and Arutmin declined to comment on accusations leveled by Walhi's S. Kalimantan branch.
Meanwhile, South Kalimantan governor HM Sjachriel Darham said that his party was open for any inputs. Concerning Walhi's proposal not to increase mining concessions for the two companies, the governor said that his party would discuss it first with other related parties. He said he did not agree with a proposal for an independent audit and watchdog because there are already independent watchdogs such as non-governmental organizations and also local legislative body.
Concerning the proposal to stop mining activities on small islands and Meratus maintain range, Sjachriel again said that he would discuss it first with all related parties. (*)