Indonesia: Mining activities will threaten the right to food of 60,000 people, Lembata, Flores.

In June 2005, a gold and copper mining company began preliminary exploration activities in the regency (district) of Lembata in Flores.  The proposed mining activities will result in the people of Lembata losing their agricultural land as well as ocean resources, which provide their staple diet. The planned mine will also cause the resettlement of at least 60,000 local people. As such, the right to food of the local people will therefore be severely threatened.  

International action is needed in order to stop current exploration activities and to stop the mine from going ahead.  Please send a letter to the Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara,  Chair of the Lembata Regional Parliament, and the Regent of Lembata, requesting them to protect the right to food of 60,000 people in Lembata.