Indonesia: Mining company files case concerning legality of mining in Wawonii island in Sulawesi; incl. co. comments
"Why these women are leading the fight against miners to protect a pristine island in Indonesia", 20 December 2023
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In the clash in February, the protesters believed the miners were trespassing on villagers' land and illegally clearing spice and nut trees.
The company, Gema Kreasi Perdana (GKP), disagreed and said the land clearing was legal.
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GKP is part of the Harita Group whose business interests include processing nickel ore for use in electric vehicle batteries.
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Ratna says open-pit nickel mining, which involves land clearing in the forest areas above the village, has caused contamination of residents' water supply.
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GKP has also mounted a legal challenge against a constitutional court that it hopes will help provide the company with some "legal certainty", according to GKP's strategic affairs manager Alexander Lieman.
"It's very difficult and disadvantageous when we have started exploration, mobilisation, operation, and recruited many employees and suddenly asked to stop," Mr Lieman told CNN Indonesia.
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"When this turbidity occurs and causes a clean water crisis, we from PT GKP are moved to help find a clean water solution for residents.
"We created a ring well for the community, helped supply water trucks during turbid water, and also helped drain the village's water storage tank."
In response to questions, GKP referred the ABC to Mr Lieman's statements to CNN Indonesia but also added that its mining area was less than 1 per cent of Wawonii Island.
"Many wrongly blame us for environmental issue[s] that are happening across the island, which is impossible because we are only operating in such a small part of the island," Mr Lieman said.
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Indonesia has the largest reserves of nickel ore in the world and the country's nickel rush came after President Joko Widodo first banned the export of unprocessed minerals in 2014.
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"[It] ushered in a new era of growth and prosperity for the people of Indonesia," according to Indonesia Chamber of Commerce chairman Arsjad Rasjid.
But Wawonii residents have dismissed that argument and say nickel mining on their island has not brought them economic prosperity.
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Johanes Robert, head of the Regional Development Planning Agency of South-East Sulawesi province, said poverty rate data showed nickel mines and related "downstreaming" had not brought prosperity to people.
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