Field Coordinator of the People`s Coalition to Prosecute, Ismail, said here Monday his coalition was of the view that the divestment stake must be offered to the regional government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
The People`s Coalition, which consists of among others the Anti Neo-liberalism Movement and the People`s Youth Movement, said the government should pay attention to the spirit of fiscal decentralization.
"By offering the seven percent divestment shares to the region, it means that the government is supporting fiscal decentralization that becomes pillars for the implementation of regional autonomy and regional development," said Ismail.
Based on its work contract in 1986, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) is required to divest 51 percent of its foreign stake ownership to the Indonesian side in March 2010 at the latest.
NNT had been in the divestment process of its 51 percent stake since 2006 and the last phase of the divestment was to sell seven percent stake to the Indonesian side in 2010.
The central government through the Government Investment Center (PIP) acquired the seven percent divestment shares on May 6, 2011.
However, the central government decision to acquire the divestment stake has been opposed by the local government and people who wanted that the shares should be sold to the region.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
