W. Papua Locals Demand Probe Of Mining Graft

Markus Junianto Sihaloho

Residents of Raja Ampat district in West Papua have demanded that police investigate their claims of judicial corruption centering on a mining company continuing its operations in a protected forest despite having its permit revoked.

At a meeting on Thursday with West Papua lawmaker Yorrys Raweyai of the Golkar Party, at the House of Representatives in Jakarta, the residents claimed nickel miner PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining had evaded illegal-mining charges by rigging a case with the help of local police and officials.

The issue goes back to 2004, when KSM was granted a mining concession in a protected forest in Raja Ampat. In 2008, then Governor Abraham Atururi revoked the permit after it the company had failed to meet several prerequisites, including an environmental-impact analysis (Amdal).

The company and the official who issued the permit, Maran Gultom, were brought up on charges. A year later, Maran was convicted and imprisoned, but the court acquitted the miner.

“I’ve urged the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office and the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] to look into this case,” Yorrys said. “We must stop all judicial graft, particularly in relation to illegal mining that destroys our forests.”

Yorrys pointed out several irregularities in the trial, including that it was held in Jayapura, Pa­pua, and not in the relevant jurisdiction of Sorong in West Papua, as well as the fact that all the evidence seized from KSM, including heavy equipment, had since gone missing.

“It’s strange because all the evidence was previously presented at the trial,” he said.

Home Affairs Ministry official Syafrizal said a special task force set up by the ministry to probe the case had ruled KSM’s permit was invalid.

Denny Indrayana of the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force said he had received the complaint from the Raja Ampat residents.

“We need time to investigate it,” he said.

Local elder Elli Dimalau said KSM was still mining in the area, using dynamite in the protected forest.

He said the residents would next week take their case to the House of Representatives’ Commission III, which oversees legal affairs.

The chain of islands that make up Raja Ampat is home to perhaps the highest marine-life diversity in the word, according to environmental group Conservation International.

Source: thejakartaglobe.com

Posted in: English,Kebijakan Pemerintah,Mining