In running the mining industry, indigenous people must always be protected by improving the living standard of the people living iaround mining areas, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Ali Masykur Musa said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government of every state should be more vigilant to prevent social conflicts between indigenous people and mining companies, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Ali Masykur Musa said.

"Indigenous people in some countries have been marginalized in the process of mining industry, giving rise to social conflicts between the indigenous people and mining companies. Every government should prevent such condition from happening," he said here on Tuesday.

He made the statement at a regional meeting of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held in Bangkok on June 24-25, themed "Corruption in the Extractive Industries Concession Arrangement".

Ali became a panelist along with researcher from the University of California Suzana Sawyer and representative of Philippines` National Human Rights Commission Loretta Rosales at the meeting.

According to him, in running the mining industry, indigenous people must always be protected by improving the living standard of the people living iaround mining areas.

"Improving the living standard of indigenous people is essential to prevent a prolonged social conflict as what has happened recently," he said.

He further said excessive exploitation of natural resources by companies in every country, including Indonesia, needs to be controlled since natural resources basically should be utilized as much as possible for the benefit of their people`s welfare.

At the UNDP meeting, Prof. Suzana from the University of California showed the results of a research on countries exploiting their natural resources excessively leading to social conflicts between indigenous people and businessmen.

The study was conducted in six countries where people were embroiled in social conflicts due to excessive exploitation of natural resources by companies. The countries are Australia, Peru, Bolivia, Canada, the Philippines, and India.

"The root of social conflicts must be handled wisely by placing indigenous people as a subject of development," Ali said.

He noted that since the reform era deforestation rate in Indonesia has reached 72 million hectares, resulting in environmental damage and potential social conflicts including those in Mesuji and Bima.

"There is no other way to overcome these problems, but to continue the moratorium on the issuance of mining and plantation licenses," he stated.

He said if the excessive exploitation of natural resources is not immediately controlled, Indonesia will be a primary energy importer in the near future.

"We have to manage natural resources wisely, so the nature will treat us friendly," said the BPK deputy chairman.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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