Indonesia update

Indonesia update

13th August 2007

It's not often that we hear about opposition to marble mining, yet this is one of the most hazardous occupational sectors in the industry - especially in India, the world's biggest single source of the highly-valued building stone.

Recently a group of Indigenous people (particularly women) took direct action against Indonesian marble companies operating in South Central Timor , where they were met with violence from thugs apparently be tacitly supported by the local government.

Following widespread demands last year from West Papuan peoples and national NGOs, that Freeport-Rio Tinto's Grasberg copper-gold project be closed, the government initiated an inquiry into its operations. While failing to endorse a closure, the Indonesian administration has called for output from the mine to be reduced by up to a third, and for royalties to be increased. However, the government does not envisage confronting the company head-on, for fear of "sending a bad signal" to other investors; rather it plans to negotiate a friendly agreement.