NTT & NTB

DTE 91-92, May 2012

By Siti Maimunah and Umbu Wulang

Siti Maimunah is Coordinator of Indonesia’s Civil Society Forum on Climate Justice. Umbu Wulang is an activist from JATAM, the Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network, in Sumba. This article was drafted in June 2011, following Siti Maimunah’s visit to Sumba, for JATAM. During the visit, consultations were held in two districts, attended by more than 500 people in which local communities rejected plans to mine gold by Fathi Resources, an Indonesian company 80% owned by Australia’s Hillgrove Resources.

Down to Earth No.78, August 2008

Posthumous award for indigenous leader

Bapak Raja J.P. Rahail, an indigenous leader from the Kei islands in eastern Indonesia was posthmously awarded the Asia Indigenous Peoples Prize at a meeting of Asian indigenous groups in July. He was praised for his role in strengthening indigenous institutions and for his handling of conflict in the area.

Down to Earth No. 70, August 2006

A dramatic rise in the price of nickel is prompting the development of a major new nickel mine in Sulawesi. What will be the impacts for local people and their environment?

The Indonesian government and Anglo-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto are negotiating the terms of a contract to develop the La Sampala nickel deposit on the borders of Southeast and Central Sulawesi. Spokesman for Rio Tinto in Indonesia, Anang R Noor, said the company plans to invest US$1 billion in the project.