JAKARTA In the nearly two years since Indonesian lawmakers passed a controversial mining law, the legislation has increasingly been used by police to arrest villagers and local activists opposed to mining operations on their lands. Human rights activists, including the national rights commission, Komnas HAM, have criticized the law, an amendment to an old […]
Mining and palm oil in crosshairs after Indonesian floods
Environmentalists accuse industries of causing ecological disaster through deforestation born out of greed
People use inflatable boats in Hulu Sungai Tengah district in South Kalimantan province on Jan. 15 after flooding hit the region. Environmentalists say the flood was the result of mining and palm oil operations. (Photo supplied)
Greed in the mining and palm oil plantation industries has caused massive ecological disasters, particularly in deforested areas such as in South Kalimantan, which was hit by flash floods last week, environmentalists have warned.
Heavy rain sparked floods on Jan. 15 that hit 11 of 14 districts and cities in South Kalimantan in which more than 20 people died. Several regions were still flooded as of Jan. 22.
Palm oil plantations, coal mines linked to deadly Indonesia flood
Environmentalists have attributed recent heavy floods in southern Indonesian Borneo to widespread deforestation for oil palm plantations and coal mines.
An analysis by Indonesia’s space agency shows an area of forest twice the size of London was cleared in the past decade in the watershed area of the Barito River in South Kalimantan province.
During the same period, plantations spanning twice the size of Los Angeles have been established in the watershed area.
Activists have called for a sweeping review of licenses as well as rehabilitation of degraded areas in the region.