NU prohibits natural resources exloitation causing damage to environment

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has seriously addressed the activity of exploitation of natural resources in Indonesia, both by the state and private corporations. <>

NU clerics participating in a so-called bahtsul masail (problems deliberation) admitted, instead of giving more advantages both socially and economically, the exploitation of natural resources has caused tremendous damage to the envirenment and it its not in line with the Islamic law (syaria).

Chairmen of lawmaking body (Rais Syuriyah) of NU KH A Ishomuddin and KH Azizi chairing the bahtsul bahtsul on Sunday (10/5) made a statement in terms of the prohibition of activities in exploiting natural resources Indonesia that  cause damage or negative impacts to the environment.

"Although the state or private (natural resources) exploiting companies are legal, in practice they have ignored the environment impact assessment (AMDAL) system," said Kiai Ishom at the bahstul bahtsul held at pesantren Al-Manar Azhari, Limo, Depok, Saturday-Sunday (9-10 / 5).

The bahtsul bahtsul participants issued a ruling against the exploitation of natural resources for being capable of resulting in dangerous condition and excessive damage (mudhorot) greater than its advantages.

"The prohibition it is not on the side of (the companies') legality or government permission, but the environmental damage they cause," Kiai Ishom said.

In addition, the companies doing the natural resources exploitation are also obliged to bear the losses they cause. The obligations cited by one of the bahtsul bahtsul participants were based on the Qawaidul Ahkam fi Masholihil Anam written by Izzuddin bin Abdissalam.

The issues raised by NU are due to the concern of NU clerics for seeing tremendous damage to the nature and environmental pollution like giant holes in the Riau Islands, Papua, Kalimantan, Aceh, Sidoarjo as a result of excessive exploitation of natural resources.

One of the bahtsul bahtsul participants Andi Najmi highlighted the legality of the exploitation activity itself. According to the Chairman of the NU Legal Aid Institute (LPBH NU), the exploitation itself is illegal.

"If in the minerba, tonnage is used as the maximum limit. If the cultivation of forest land, those enegaged in this exploitation must pay more attention to domestic workers. It was all set in the law," Andi said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq