85,196 people demand: NO to a gold mine in Sumatra’s tiger forest!
Indonesia: A delegation from six local organizations and Rainforest Rescue presented the petition “NO to a gold mine in Sumatra’s tiger forest!” – signed by more than 85,000 people – to the governor and provincial parliament of Aceh, Sumatra, on September 7 and 8.
On September 7, we delivered the petition “NO to a gold mine in Sumatra’s tiger forest”, with 85,196 signatures, to the governor of Aceh. On September 8, we presented it to the provincial parliament.
“Beutong must be excluded from the zone designated for mining! There can be no ifs or buts,” Teungku Malikul Aziz, head of the delegation, told the governor.
The delegation included representatives from Beutong Ateuh Banggalang district, who are fighting tirelessly against any form of mining in their area. Rainforest Rescue was there too, alongside our partner organizations Aceh Wetland Forum and APEL Green Aceh.
Save Beutong from the threat of mining!
They are joined in this demand by the local group Generasi Beutong Ateuh Benggalang, the women’s association Persatuan Perempuan Beutong, the rainforest defenders Gayo Rimba Bersatu, and Lembahtari, an organization dedicated to preserving forests.
Beutong lies at the heart of the Leuser Ecosystem, in a beautiful valley surrounded by forests that are home to endangered Sumatran tigers. For decades, its residents have resisted Jakarta’s plans to extract the region’s valuable mineral resources from this earthquake-prone area.
Our petition has so far stopped the gold company BME. But more pressure is needed now, because another mining company has emerged in recent months.
The governor and parliament received the petition positively. Governor Muzakkir Manaf reaffirmed: “No one will get Beutong.”
The government in Jakarta, however, has the final say. “We will take the demands of the people of Beutong to the national government,” parliamentarians promised on September 8.
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Indonesia: NO to a gold mine in Sumatra’s tiger forest!
A proposed gold mine threatens the Leuser Ecosystem and with it tigers, elephants, rhinos and orangutans. Please support the environmentalists on Sumatra.
Defending rainforests in Southeast Asia
The forests of Southeast Asia are the last refuge and habitat of orangutans, Sumatran tigers, birds of paradise and Komodo dragons.
The rainforest
A green sea of ferns, mosses, vines and ancient trees. Iridescent butterflies and colorful birds. Flowers in every hue of the rainbow. The “green lung” is a natural wonder of the world. Find out more about the world’s most diverse, fascinating and threatened ecosystem.