NGOs OPPOSE MSM'S PLAN TO OPERATE IN N SULAWESI

Jakarta, June 23 (ANTARA) - Seven non governmental organizations are opposed to mining firm PT Meares Soputan Mining (MSM)'s plan to operate in North Sulawesi province for fear it will lead to massive damage to the environment.

"Environmental destruction will cause 18,000 fishermen near the mining site to lose their livelihood and therefore, the government should take a firm measure not to allow the mining investor to operate," Siti Maemunah of the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) said here on Tuesday.

The other six NGOs are the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the People's Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara), the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Association (KTNI), the Indonesian Center for Environment Law (ICEL), the Alliance of People Opposing Mining Waste (Ammalta) and the Voice of North Sulawesi's Conscience Foundation.

Yul Takaliwang of the Voice of North Sulawesi's Conscience Foundation said PT Meares which teams up with PT Tambang Tondano Nusa Jaya had expired environmental impact analysis (Amdal) and therefore, its planned operations would fearfully cause environmental destruction.

"The central government in this case the energy and mineral resources ministry should stop this unlawful act. If its Amdal is no longer relevant, don't let it to operate," Yul said.

Dedi Ramanta of KNTI said the company's mining operations, if approved, would inflict a loss of Rp53.4 billion to fishermen annually.

Henri Subagio of ICEL said the energy and mineral resources ministry should not make the absence of a provincial land space designation plan (RTRWP) an excuse to licence the mining investor.

"The North Sulawesi provincial government has firmly rejected MSM because it is focusing on developing the area known as Toka Tindung into a plantation estate and tourist resort," he said.