Joint Position Statement:

JMPPK, WALHI, HuMa, KontraS, Desantara, Legal Aid Foundation, LBH Semarang, Pil -Net & KruHA

Jakarta, 11/19/2014. More thousands of women who had been occupying a tent apposing the cement factory PT Semen Indonesia in Rembang regency arrived in Jakarta. The arrival of these women was part of the effort to publicly reject of the central government. Until now, the regional governments, provincial governments and local governments felt that there was no serious concern regarding the public complaints. Residents rejected the environmental permit issued by the Governor of Central Java as the basis of issuing mining permits for PT Semen Indonesia within the ground water basin (CAT) of Watuputih Rembang region.

Rembang resident’s rejection of the construction by PT Semen Indonesia is because the factory and mining exploitation area is located in Cekungan Air Tanah Region, Watuputih. This region makes up an area whos function is to preserve the ground water reserves.

Research findings from Air Bawah Tengah in Watuputih mountain by Central Java Level One Mining Service in March 1998 explained that Watuputih Mountain and the surrounding region is physiologically classified as having several types of Karts landscapes.

There are unique natural phenomenon such as natural caves and underground rivers. Field data was collected by the Semarang Caver Association and the Jaringan Masyarakat Peduli Pegunungan Kendeng (JMPPK) or Kendeng Mountain Carers Society, which concerned the caves spread throughout the region. Between these caves are caves with rivers beneath the ground which are still active.

Corporate mining permits which were granted by the Rembang regional government recommended that PT Semen Gresik (Persero) Tbk undertake mining activities within the area included within the CAT Watuputih Area of 131,55 Hectares (1.315.500 m²).

If this region is mined, there is a risk of water depletion. The disappearance of water catchment in the CAT Watuputih region will threaten 607.198 people in 14 districts within the Remang Region which depend on the CAT Watuputih region. Furthermore, in a disaster context, the disappearance of this water catchment will cause the disappearance of the water storage delay so that in the wet season, water which should be absorbed within the ground will become run off instead. When the water exceeds the peak rain water discharge, the surface water flow will quickly disappear. This will have the effect of floods in the plain regions which are directly related to the Aliran River Region which lead to the CAT Watuputih.

During this process the cement factory construction will continue while PT Semen Indonesia’s environmental permits are being disputed by residents and WALHI in the Semarang State Administrative Court. The Cement PT Indonesia factory construction often threatens the people because of the engagement of security forces and police, as well as the military with complete weaponry to guard and sign for the removal of residents, especially those in the opposition tent where the women live. The presence of police and military is intended to cause fear within the community who have rejected the construction of the PT Indonesia Cement Factory.

Based on the facts above, our coalition of civil society organisations consisting of JMPPK, WALHI, HuMa, KontraS, Desantara, Legal Aid Foundation, LBH Semarang, PIL-Net and KRuHA demand that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Governor of Central Java:

Immediately evaluate and request the Governor of Central Java to revoke the Environmental Permit PT Semen Indonesia No. 668.1 / 17 of 2012 on Environmental Permits Mining Activities of PT. Semen Gresik (Persero) Tbk, in Rembang, Central Java;

1. Cease the construction of the PT. Indonesian cement factory because it will adversely impact the carrying capacity and environmental capacity in the Karst of Groundwater Basin (CAT) Region of Watuputihh in Rembang;

2. Instruct the Chief of Police and the military commander to take action against members who discriminate against and intimidate the people, especially those who appose PT Semen Indonesia Mine;

3. Assign the Ground Water Basin area (CAT), Watuputih as karst region where any mining activity is prohibited.

With this statement we would like to give our thanks.