CRA accused of cyanide pollution
By Zanny Begg
The Environmental Youth Alliance is planning to confront the Australian company CRA over charges that it is polluting the Indonesian environment.
CRA is the majority shareholder (67.95%) in Kelian Equatorial Mining (PT KEM), which operates a gold mine near the Kelian River in East Kalimantan. On April 4, 617 chemical drums from the mine fell into the river, which had overflowed its banks following heavy rains. Chemicals used in the mine include sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and sodium cyanide.
The incident was not reported to authorities until four days later. The company claims that the drums were empty and that none of them opened.
However, at least 13 people were injured at the site, some of them reportedly having blistered hands. Another person found dead among the drums was declared to have died of epilepsy, residents say.
The Kelian River and the Mahakam River, also downstream from the mine, are a source of drinking water, but local residents are afraid to use the water until they can be assured it does not contain cyanide.
Moreover, regardless of what may have been spilled in the April 4 accident, the residents point out that the mine normally uses large quantities of chemicals which presumably are ending up in the local environment. For example, it uses 4200 tons of sodium cyanide per year.
Local activists have formed the Anti-Pollution Solidarity Action Group (ASAP) to help residents campaign for the clean-up of their river. ASAP says that PT KEM was also responsible for environmental damage to the forest around the mine site in June last year.
A delegation from EYA plans to visit CRA's Sydney offices on June 25 to ask what, if anything, is being done to ensure there is no further pollution due to the Kelian mine.
Zyra McAuliffe, a spokesperson for EYA, said, "We must make First World companies accountable for their actions in the developing world. The struggle for a safe environment is a global one, and we cannot ignore the destructive actions of Australian companies overseas." For more information, call EYA Sydney on (02) 690 1032.