Indonesia: commission will back Rembang plant

The state-owned PT Semen Indonesia Rembang cement plant, Central Java, will received the backing from the House of Representatives Commission VI, says its head Teguh Juwarno, following a Supreme Court case review decision in favour of the people of Kendeng mountain, reports the Jakarta Post.

"The parliament gives its political support to PT Semen Indonesia in Rembang so it can continue its operation there. We support Semen Indonesia and the State-owned Enterprises Ministry to continue the legal process so the factory can operate in accordance with the investment plan," Mr Teguh said in a statement.

The case was important to be solved quickly as the building work had already passed 90 per cent completion on the plant.

The cement factory in the Kendeng karst mountain range spans the three regencies of Rembang, Pati, and Grobogan, met with protests from local farmers, including nine women who have cemented their feet in front of the Presidential Palace as a form of protest.

The farmers say that agriculture already provides enough money and food for the population and insist that they do not need factory jobs because their fields are fertile. They are also worried the cement factory will drain water from the water-rich karst mountain and dry their agricultural land.