Focus On Indonesia

Deforestation in Indonesia has reached 2.4 million hectares (1.2%) per year or approximately 10 acres of rainforest a minute.

Mining multinational companies and foreign governments are lobbying the Indonesian government to open up protected forest areas, national parks and other protected areas for mining while local communities and environmental justice groups are demanding that the protected forest areas remain intact and free from mining.

The Indonesian House of Representatives is due to decide this matter in mid 2003.

Below are info sources on the issue in English from the Coalition to Oppose Mining in Indonesia's Protected Areas:

Backgrounder- July 2003
Save Indonesia's protected forest areas from mining! Sets out the issue in a few pages.

124 more mining companies to operate in protected forest- July 22, 2003
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said on Monday that it would give 102 mining firms the chance to operate in protected forests, bringing the total number to 124 firms

Letter from UNESCO re Gag Island
(plain text version is here) Relates to BHP Billiton's planned mine in a protected area, UNESCO refers to "possible environmental impacts of mining operations and related submarine tailing disposal on Gag Island in the Raja Ampat archipelago"

Australian hypocrisy over mining in Indonesian forests
Jakarta Post - Opinion and Editorial - July 03, 2003. The Australian government has been lobbying for over a year, behind the scenes, to undermine existing environmental protections at several sites in Eastern Indonesia.

Parliamentary transcript of questions for Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer
Downer’s answers revealed that BHP Billiton, Newcrest, Placer Dome, and Rio Tinto specifically requested, and received, lobbying assistance from the Australian Embassy on the matter of mining in protected areas.

Indigenous Dayak Letter
Opposition And Demand To Halt Gold Mining Exploitation By Placer Dome in South Kalimantan

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

Hopes rise for mining ban in Indonesia's forests- Mining Monitor, April 23, 2003
A broad coalition of community non-government organisations has mobilised public pressure – in testimony to parliamentary committee meetings, in the media, at universities and shopping centres – against the proposed changes.

Indonesia regional govts, civil society: More speak out for forest protection from mining - Jul 13, 2003

Mining in protected areas a crime, say lawyers, protestors - Jul 03, 2003

Public outcry over mining threat to Indonesian protected forests - Jun 23, 2003

"Reject Rio Tinto" – Indonesian community’s pro-forests message for Earth Day and RIO TINTO AGM - Apr 17, 2003

Leave protected forests alone, Ghanaian, Indonesian, Australian environment groups tell BHP Billiton - Feb 22, 2003

For further information:
Contact JATAM
(Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network) Jakarta
or
WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia