Are $14bn worth of Indonesian mining projects at risk?
The latest round in the battle to halt all mining in Indonesia’s protected forest areas seems to have been won by the environmentalists. This could affect, among other companies, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. But it is unclear just how many projects will be affected by a proposed moratorium – and how effective it will [...]
Client Earth report on Rio Tinto
London law firm Client Earth has recently published a critique of Rio Tinto’s corporate reporting in the light of the Companies Act 2006 requirements, comparing Rio Tinto’s record with its reporting, and referring the company to the Financial Reporting Review Panel, which is responsible for ensuring full and honest reporting by UK listed companies. See [...]
Papuans March on Provincial Capital to Demand Independence
An estimated 2,000 Papuans took to the streets of provincial capital Jayapura to demand independence from Indonesia, days after a local council called for the province’s special autonomy to be revoked because of its perceived ineffectiveness. The Papuans, who marched from Sentani district to Jayapura in their traditional garb, demanded an independence referendum for the [...]
Vanuatu wants International Court to decide on West Papua
Vanuatu’s parliament has unanimously passed a motion calling for the International Court of Justice to investigate the the legality of West Papua becoming part of Indonesia. The motion was jointly sponsored by prime minister Edward Natapei and opposition leader Maxime Carlot Korman. It will see the country ask the UN General Assembly to direct the [...]
Nickel: A breakthrough in China, another blow for many others
A potentially highly significant “development” has just been announced in China. At first sight, it relates only to changes in methods of refining nickel, primarily in the manufacture of stainless steel. But, if verified, the process has profound (and negative) implications, both for the health of Chinese people, and for that of communities in Indonesia [...]
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