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Agrarian Reform: is it really pro-poor?

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

More than 5 years since the MPR Decree IX/2001 was passed (see DTE 52), it seems that agrarian reform is eventually going to see the light of the day. In his postponed New Year State Address at the end of January, President Yudhoyono announced that the long overdue Agrarian Reform Program or PPAN, will take place in 2007, adhering to principle 'Land for justice and welfare of the people'.

Sidoardjo mud keeps flowing

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

The arrival of heavy monsoon rains in Java has made life even more miserable for the thousands of people affected by the East Java mudflow disaster (see DTE 71). The Sidoardjo mudflow, referred to in Indonesian as 'Lumpur Sidoardjo', or simply 'Lusi', which first erupted in May 2006, continues unabated. It has displaced thousands of people, yet, despite overwhelming evidence of criminal negligence, the government has not taken legal action over the disaster.

North Sulawesi confronts Jakarta over MSM gold mine plans

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

The Toka Tindung gold mine project is now in doubt after strong opposition to Meares Soputan Mining's plans to build an open pit gold mine in a sensitive coastal area and dump mine waste into Rinondoran Bay.

A major blow came when an environmental hearing in August 2006 forced the company to alter its plans to instead use the more expensive option of disposal of tailings on land.

Indonesia's Forestry Congress IV: hope and reality

Down to Earth No. 71, November 2006


The following account is by a member of DTE staff who attended the recent national forestry congress in Jakarta.

The fourth Indonesian Forestry Congress was held in the Forestry Department Building, Manggala Wanabakti, in Jakarta on 13-15 September 2006. The theme was 'From Crisis to Resurgence: Repositioning Indonesian Forestry', and the congress was opened by vice-president Yusuf Kalla.

Indigenous groups hail declaration breakthrough


Down to Earth No.

Forest policy and Indonesia's natural resources crisis: a view from Jakarta

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006


This article is based on an interview with Andiko, Coordinator of the Legal Reform Programme of HuMA, the Association for Community and Ecology-Based Legal Reform, in Jakarta. Andiko is actively involved in various legal reform discussions and campaigns on natural resources management.

No Newmont clean-up for Buyat Bay

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006

Reclamation activities in Sulawesi by Newmont Minahasa Raya, the gold mining company majority-owned by US-based Newmont Mining Corp, are not dealing with the huge amounts of waste dumped in the sea.