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The truth about the deposit was disclosed by the exploration report of three mining companies: PT. Hakman Tembaga Metalindo, PT Hakman Perak Metalindo, and PT Hakman Platina Metalindo. Another company reported to also be joining the three is PT. Jember Metal, a part of Yusuf Merukh corporation group. All four companies seem to have somehow joined forces to make sure their plan runs smoothly.
To worsen the situation, local government officials have actually passed their applications for principal mining license. The local government then submitted these applications to the Regional Peoples’ Representative Council (DPRD) on June 20, 2000. In its recommendation, the local government referred to the gold mines as local assets to be exploited by third parties.
Unfortunately, the council was not critical in its response. Most council members focused only on technicalities instead of substantial issues. They inquired about the companies’ concrete data on the gold deposit, the number of employment opportunities the mines are going to bring, and how contributive the mines will be for the regional income.
THE MERU BETIRI NATIONAL PARK
The Meru Betiri National Park has its own history. It begins with the Dutch colonial policy to preserve the Meru Betiri area in 1929. From 1961 to 1972, the area was managed by Perhutani, an association of Indonesian forest concession owners. Then, in 1972, the area was turned into a 50,000 hectares wildlife reserve by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry.
Ten years later, the Meru Betiri area was prepared to turned into a national park by an expansion of the land of 58,000 hectares. The decision was made official by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 736/Kpts/ Mentan/X/ 1982. Finally, on October 1997, Meru Betiri area changed its status officially into a national park by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry: 185/Kpts-II/1997, March 25, 1997.
The national park has quite a vast biodiversity. More than 300 species of medicinal plants, and various species of birds, including: the Javanese Eagle and peacocks can be found in the area. Moreover, four protected species of turtles, including; the Green Turtles (Penyu Hijau) and the Belimbing Turtles (Penyu Belimbing) come to the surrounding beaches to lay their eggs.
For the local community, the area is simply a source of life. From the forest, they can gather honey, wood, bamboo, medicine plants, rattan and other forest products. The forest is also a location of several community plantations of rubber, coffee, and cacao managed by the community and PTPN.
The locals have a high dependency on the forest and its products. The average locals are farm workers who generally own no more than 0.2 hectares of land. Most of the community living in the area are settlers from Madura.
EXPLORATION
The mining companies conducted their exploration for two years (1995-1997). The exploration area covers two subdistricts, Tempurejo (five villages) and Silo (with a main focus on Mulyorejo village). In its exploration, the company also marked the areas within the national park which is clearly a conservation area. To make it worst, mineral sampling were also taken within community settlements, right in front of their houses. Samples were also taken from the community’s plantations and within the national park.
This activity actually gained the support of the Head of the District. The excuse used is that the national park is actually located within the exploration area of the Directorate General of Mining. This exploration area includes the southern part of the Java island, from Yogyakarta to East Java, covering an area as vast as 1,023,000 hectares. The latest update stated that more area is going to be given to the mining companies once they reach their exploitation stage—not only the two subdistricts explored, but also another subdistrict called Mayang.
Yusuf Merukh is the conglomerate behind Newmont mining companies whose two mines (Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi and Newmont Nusa Tenggara di Sumbawa) apply the submarine tailing disposal system that has massively devastated the lives of the local community and the environment. [EB]
SOURCE: Radar Jember, July 26 2000; Tabloid Adil No. 22, March 18, 1997; Personal communication with KAPPALA of East Java
For further information: Contact JATAM
(Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network)
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GOLD MINES ATTACK NATIONAL PARK IN EAST JAVA
One more national park asset in Indonesia will be ravaged by not one, but three gold mining companies. The Meru Betiri National PaRk in Jember, East Java is under a severe threat due to a discovery of 80,000 tons gold deposit within its area.The truth about the deposit was disclosed by the exploration report of three mining companies: PT. Hakman Tembaga Metalindo, PT Hakman Perak Metalindo, and PT Hakman Platina Metalindo. Another company reported to also be joining the three is PT. Jember Metal, a part of Yusuf Merukh corporation group. All four companies seem to have somehow joined forces to make sure their plan runs smoothly.
To worsen the situation, local government officials have actually passed their applications for principal mining license. The local government then submitted these applications to the Regional Peoples’ Representative Council (DPRD) on June 20, 2000. In its recommendation, the local government referred to the gold mines as local assets to be exploited by third parties.
Unfortunately, the council was not critical in its response. Most council members focused only on technicalities instead of substantial issues. They inquired about the companies’ concrete data on the gold deposit, the number of employment opportunities the mines are going to bring, and how contributive the mines will be for the regional income.
THE MERU BETIRI NATIONAL PARK
The Meru Betiri National Park has its own history. It begins with the Dutch colonial policy to preserve the Meru Betiri area in 1929. From 1961 to 1972, the area was managed by Perhutani, an association of Indonesian forest concession owners. Then, in 1972, the area was turned into a 50,000 hectares wildlife reserve by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry.
Ten years later, the Meru Betiri area was prepared to turned into a national park by an expansion of the land of 58,000 hectares. The decision was made official by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 736/Kpts/ Mentan/X/ 1982. Finally, on October 1997, Meru Betiri area changed its status officially into a national park by the Decree of the Minister of Forestry: 185/Kpts-II/1997, March 25, 1997.
The national park has quite a vast biodiversity. More than 300 species of medicinal plants, and various species of birds, including: the Javanese Eagle and peacocks can be found in the area. Moreover, four protected species of turtles, including; the Green Turtles (Penyu Hijau) and the Belimbing Turtles (Penyu Belimbing) come to the surrounding beaches to lay their eggs.
For the local community, the area is simply a source of life. From the forest, they can gather honey, wood, bamboo, medicine plants, rattan and other forest products. The forest is also a location of several community plantations of rubber, coffee, and cacao managed by the community and PTPN.
The locals have a high dependency on the forest and its products. The average locals are farm workers who generally own no more than 0.2 hectares of land. Most of the community living in the area are settlers from Madura.
EXPLORATION
The mining companies conducted their exploration for two years (1995-1997). The exploration area covers two subdistricts, Tempurejo (five villages) and Silo (with a main focus on Mulyorejo village). In its exploration, the company also marked the areas within the national park which is clearly a conservation area. To make it worst, mineral sampling were also taken within community settlements, right in front of their houses. Samples were also taken from the community’s plantations and within the national park.
This activity actually gained the support of the Head of the District. The excuse used is that the national park is actually located within the exploration area of the Directorate General of Mining. This exploration area includes the southern part of the Java island, from Yogyakarta to East Java, covering an area as vast as 1,023,000 hectares. The latest update stated that more area is going to be given to the mining companies once they reach their exploitation stage—not only the two subdistricts explored, but also another subdistrict called Mayang.
Yusuf Merukh is the conglomerate behind Newmont mining companies whose two mines (Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi and Newmont Nusa Tenggara di Sumbawa) apply the submarine tailing disposal system that has massively devastated the lives of the local community and the environment. [EB]
SOURCE: Radar Jember, July 26 2000; Tabloid Adil No. 22, March 18, 1997; Personal communication with KAPPALA of East Java
For further information: Contact JATAM
(Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network)
Back to top
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