Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Provincial Government said it suspected that Freeport had been conducting gold mining activities in the underground of Lorenz National Park.
Papua Regional Secretary Hery Dosinaen in Jayapura on Thursday (1/9/2016) said the underground mining activities were suspected to have occurred in the area of Ilaga, Jila, Hoya, Ermakawiya and Bela where the ground is the Lorentz National Park, and possibly there is a tunnel connecting the area.
“If not, the mining would keep undermining the nature in Papua from the underground, though the forest on the top was protected,” he said.
He stated about the current situation of the international economy policy, in which the regional government is now indirectly under the pressure of the donor countries, in the context to maintain the sustainability of Lorenz National Park.
“So at the end, about 10 regencies where located surrounding the national park are not able to implement the development optimally,” he said.
For instance, he said, Asmat Regency is the area located on the top of water and can not build the capital of regency because it is surrounded by Lorentz National Park.
“We should reveal this fact, therefore it would be a regulation to support the implementation of development without conflict with the legal process,” he said.
He said since 1980, the construction of Trans Irian Jaya crossroad from Sorong to Merauke by the Ministry of Public Works crossed the area of the national park, that it turned an obstacle in the process of development. (*/rom)
