Indonesia: Rembang protests continue

Residents of the Rembang regency in Central Java, Indonesia, are continuing to protest against the planned construction of Semen Indonesia's greenfield plant in the area, according to the Jakarta Post.

The report states that last week, hundreds of residents staged a rally in front of the governor's office on Jl Pahlawan, Semarang, protesting against the development of the 8000tpd factory. The protesters arrived in tens of open trucks and were grouped under the Central Java Food Sovereignty Caring Community Network.

The case is  already being heard at the Semarang State Administrative Court (PTUN), according to an adviser to current Governor Ganjar Pranowo. In the charge, Rembang residents together with the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) asked the court to revoke the governor-issued environmental license for mining activities granted to PT Semen Indonesia in Rembang. The protestors have alleged that the license violated a number of laws, including Law No. 7/2004 on Water Resources, Law No. 26/2007 on National Spatial Planning and Provincial Bylaw No. 6/2010 on Provincial Spatial Planning.

Presiding Judge Susilowati Siahaan has already turned down PT Semen Indonesia's objection, questioning the court's authority to hear the charge against the environmental license for the development of the plant and the hearing is set to continue.