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Indonesia

Indonesia has great natural wealth but many of its citizens live in extreme poverty. Democratic progress has been made since the resigation of former president Suharto in 1998, but many civil society organisations feel that far too little progress has been made towards sustainable management of the country's resources, and ensuring that Indonesia's diverse communities have a real say in decisions which affect their future.

New pollution study corners Newmont

Down to Earth No 63  November 2004


The latest and most comprehensive government-sponsored study into pollution at Newmont's gold mine in North Sulawesi, has linked the US-based company's mining activities to ill-health in the local community and declining fish stocks in Buyat Bay.

In brief... DTE 63 - November 2004

Down to Earth No 63  November 2004

Munir poisoned

In November it was revealed that leading Indonesian human rights defender, Munir, who died in September whilst on a flight from Indonesia to the Netherlands, was poisoned with arsenic. Indonesian and international colleagues have expressed shock at the news that Munir was murdered. Munir - an outspoken critic of the military, was co-founder of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial).

'Illegal logging' - defining legality, undermining rights

Down to Earth No 62 August 2004

Efforts to secure protection for local communities under a new timber trade standard may be undermined by an emergency decree on illegal logging.

In 2002, the Indonesian and British governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat illegal logging and the illegal timber trade.

Forest fires

Down to Earth No 62  August 2004

The burning season started early in Sumatra this year, but Jakarta has been too preoccupied with the elections to take action on forest fires.

Thick smoke blanketed parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan for several days during June and July, resulting in the now familiar symptoms of delayed flights and the authorities handing out face masks.

New plantation law - more land conflicts predicted

Down to Earth No 62  August 2004

Indonesia's new plantation law, aimed at providing legal certainty for investors, will do nothing to address conflicts between local communities and companies. It could well make things worse.

The Plantations Bill was endorsed by Indonesia's national parliament on 12th July, two years after it was tabled.

Indonesian CSOs slam privatisation of conservation

Down to Earth No 62  August 2004

The following is part of a statement by the Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI), the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) and Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) to the seventh meeting of parties to the Biodiversity Convention (COP 7), Kuala Lumpur, February 2004.

Conservation is an integral part of resource management. In biodiversity, it plays a crucial role, as our life and livelihoods depend on how we conserve nature.

Ladia Galaska road network: construction continues, controversy rages

Down to Earth No 62  August 2004

NGOs have stepped up their campaign to halt construction of the Ladia Galaska road project which cuts through the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh - one of world's richest areas of tropical rainforest.

Floods hit four districts in Aceh on May 7-8, in the western area downstream of the Ladia Galaska road project, leaving one person dead, sweeping away four houses and forcing thousands to leave their flooded homes.