ASIA/INDONESIA - The Church supports the campaign against mining exploitation in Flores

Friday, 24 October 2014

Flores (Agenzia Fides) - Thousands of priests, religious and laity of all the parishes, secondary school and university students on the island of Flores, the Catholic stronghold in Indonesia, gathered to challenge the mining projects on the island. The awareness campaign against mining exploitation in Flores, which would seriously damage the environment, has been going on for months and found a moment of high visibility on October 13.
As reported by the news service of the Episcopal Conference of Indonesia, consulted by Fides, the local diocese of Ruteng officially reiterated its position contrary to mining projects. The diocese covers an area where almost 700 thousand Catholics live, who make up 93% of the total population. "The Diocese of Ruteng believes that the initiation of mines for the extraction of manganese, gold and iron would cause serious ecological damage and endanger the lives of people in Flores. The mining exploitation will result in a systematic and massive impoverishment of the indigenous population", with the possible consequence of "triggering social conflict, alter tribal and state laws". It will also predictably cause, "business companies to hire security teams to intimidate the residents", reads a document published in 2014 after the Synod of the Diocese of Ruteng. Such dynamics are known and recorded in the neighboring Philippine island of Mindanao.
The event was organized on 13 October by the "Justice and Peace" Commission of the Diocese of Ruteng and was carried out in a completely peaceful manner, with spiritual songs and recitation of the Rosary. The Bishop of Ruteng, His Exc. Mgr. Hubertus Leteng, remarked "the duty to protect the integrity of creation". The protesters called on the government to block local projects and mining permits. They also ask legislators to enact a clear regulation, in order not to leave foreign companies under the arbitrary management of the environment and life of the island. (PCP-PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2014)


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