Walhi: Foreign Stake at Lumajang Sand Mine
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Selasa, 6 Oktober 2015 06:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) investigation found involvement of foreign companies in the iron sand mine conflict in Lumajang, East Java.
"Our guess, the iron sand mining conflict do not only involve the local bureaucracy, but also involves an international corporation," said Munhur Satyahaprabu, Walhi’s Manager of Policy and Legal Defense, in a press conference in Jakarta, Monday, October 5.
The conflict peaked on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Dozens of the Selok Awar-Awar village chief’s thugs persecute Salim Kancil and Tosan, both anti-mining activists.
Tosan and Salim visited the Lumajang police to report the death threats they received and asked for protection, to no avail. Salim Kancil was killed by the mob.
According to Munhur, the foreign company acts as launderers of the illegal mining activity by exporting the commodity to China. He suspected there was an agreement made by the international corporation, Dampar Golden International, with PT Indo Modern Mining Sejahtera (IMMS).
The mining product then kept in a stock pile which then brought into the Tanjung Tembaga Port in Probolinggo, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya and Gresik, on to Qingdao Port in China. "The police have to check the people involved in the flow of mining products from the origins to the port," said Munhur.
Before being exported to China, the iron sand is held by Dampar Golden International, which received a license from the Governor of East Java. Their permit is an exclusive license which they have the right to buy the Lumajang sand to be sent to other places, including China.
According to Walhi, the police have to investigate who in the company that accepts the sand. In fact, they should reveal anyone who enjoys the results of the mining.
"Our guess, Dampar Golden International is the launderer of the illegal Lumajang iron sand. This fosters the practices of illegal sand mining in Lumajang," said Munhur.
There are two ports used, namely Tanjung tembanga mining and mining smelter in Gresik. PT IMMS has a 45 percent stake in Asia Resources Holdings, which is 100 percent owned by PT Mighty Kingdom.
Mighty Kingdom Investment owned as much as 55 percent stake, and 5 percent held by Empire Bridge Asset (which is registered in the British Virgin Islands). All of the mining companies buy from Dampar Golden International, which was then taken to Probolinggo then China.
Walhi believes that the Lumajang iron sand mine is not only a source of conflict and loss to the state, but also a source of corruption. Therefore, Walhi demanded sternly that the police not only gets the village head only with planned murder but also with corruption and money laundering.
This is done so that other actors involved are also legally prosecuted and the illegal mines that can also violate human rights does not happen again.
LARISSA HUDA