Criticism Of LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti Over Nickel Exploitation, Asks The Government To Review Policies

LaNyalla Mattalitti asked the government to review the nickelI mining policy. (IST)

SURABAYA - Chairman of the DPD RI AA LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti criticized the excessive exploitation of nickel that continues to occur in various regions of the country, especially on the island of Sulawesi. Natural exploitation due to the government's ambition in developing the electric vehicle ecosystem actually accelerates environmental damage and creates social problems in society.

LaNyalla firmly asked the government to review the various detrimental policies.

"Exploitation of mining materials in Indonesia, especially in the Sulawesi region, has drawn controversy with the surrounding community, both those directly affected and not. Apart from human rights violations, exploitation also causes ecological damage and increases the rate of deforestation. As a result, the ecosystem is disrupted and then brings disaster," said LaNyalla, October 11.

Disasters, according to LaNyalla, are not only in nature but also in humans. People in mining areas and their surroundings have lost many livelihoods, lost land, houses and uncertain lives.

"This makes the reality reversed between mining entrepreneurs and the people whose land is eroded for mining," he said.

In LaNyalla's view, the investment is in fact not for the benefit of the people, but for the economic interests of the elite group. The negative impact is only the people who feel. For me, something like this is a crime," he said.

Recently, said LaNyalla, many government policies tend to make massive exploitation of natural resources easier. If it is not followed by the development of strong mining governance, exploitation will have serious consequences.

"These various consequences have occurred and must be the government's concern. That's why the direction of politics and mining governance, even though the foundation is easy for investment, should not ignore the environment and the affected communities," he said.

For this reason, suggested LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, the government needs to moratorium the issuance of mineral mining permits in Sulawesi and other similar areas. To carry out the latest mapping of environmental impacts and it is also necessary to review and disaster that threatens the community around the mine.

As is known, the Director of Walhi South Sulawesi, Muhammad Al Amin, previously said that one of the concessions of the largest nickel mining company in South Sulawesi threatened the existence of a Nusantara pepper barn in the Tamabalia Block or the Lumero-Lengkona Mountains, with a total concession area of 17.8 thousand hectares.

Meanwhile, in Central Sulawesi, Director of Walhi Central Sulawesi, Sunardi Katili said the natural rainforest contained in the largest nickel mining concession was in Central Sulawesi with an area of more than 200 thousand ha.

In the last 18 years, the largest deforestation has also occurred in Central Sulawesi with an area of 722.7 thousand hectares. Deforestation due to nickel mining expansion is thought to have triggered major flooding since 2020 in North Morowali Regency.

Based on Walhi's records, conflicts between residents and nickel mining companies have also increased. From 2019-2023 Walhi noted that around 32 people were criminalized, two people were arrested, and 14 people were abused. That's why LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti called on the government to review nickel mining policies.