Local People Took to the Streets to Protest Against Nickel Smelter

The first day of 2015 in Banyuputih district, Situbondo regency, East Java, was marked by an environmental movement. Last Thursday, the people of Wonorejo village staged a demonstration in front of Baluran National Park's entrance to protest the construction of a nickel smelter at their village, in a land adjacent to the park (1/1/2015).

The people of Wonorejo village and several local communities fron Situbondo protest against the smelter because they are worried of its long-term impacts on the environment and public health. Until today, the construction has been stirring controversy due to inadequate admistrative requirements and the absence of environmental impact assessment document.

They claimed that if in the next few days the government of Situbondo regency do not provide them with positive response, they are going to stage a more massive movement. They believe this action is necessary to express their concern towards the national park, as well as to demand for their right of a good and healthy living environment.