Nickel Mine Opening Issue In Jayapura Papua, Regent: I Don't Know

Jayapura Regent Yunus Wonda (ANTARA/Agustina Estevani Janggo)

JAKARTA - Jayapura Regent Yunus Wonda emphasized that until now the Jayapura Regency Government has not received official information or requests from any party regarding the plan to open nickel mines in its area.

Yunus said that the issue of the existence of nickel mines had indeed surfaced in the community, but local governments did not have data or definite information about the location or validity of these mining activities.

"I myself don't know about the nickel mine. The issue did go up, but firstly, we don't know where this item is," he said in Sentani, Papua Province, Monday, July 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to Yunus, so far there has been no communication or meeting between local governments and mining companies, both from within the region and from the central government.

"We, the government, have never been visited by companies or anything that will open mines in Jayapura Regency," he said.

He explained that every policy involving natural resources in this customary region must first obtain approval from indigenous peoples as owners of customary matters, he emphasized that the government would not take unilateral steps.

"In principle, the Deputy Regent of Jayapura and I will refuse if the indigenous people refuse if, the aspirations of the people remain the main guide of the government in determining the direction of development in Jayapura Regency," he said.

He added that the district government would not give approval in any form without an open dialogue process with the people.

"We will not do things that are not desirable and are not needed by the community. We urge the public to remain calm and report any suspicious activities related to mining to local governments," he said.