Indonesian Ulema Issue Fatwa on Destructive Mining

Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 27 Jul 11;

The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) issued a religious edict, known as a fatwa, on Wednesday, condemning mining practices that were destroying the environment and neglecting people's welfare.

"We condemn mining activities that only destroy the environment and inflict misery on the people. We must prevent such actions through regulation and government actions," Ma'ruf Amin, head of the fatwa division at MUI, said on Wednesday.

Ma'ruf said that the fatwa was not made by "order" but based on the council's long observation and research.

This fatwa applies to everyone, from government officials, company managements and regional governments, most of whom are Muslim. They must ensure that mining practices should be environmentally friendly," he said.

Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said the fatwa served as an additional solution to accompany the formal regulation that deals with environmental destruction from mining activities.

"We are still implementing the law and the regulation. This [fatwa] is just to complete our efforts in developing better mining practices," he said.

"I know that there will be pessimism [about the fatwa], however, the fatwa applies not only to Muslim but also to the mining activities itself and local government officials who are mostly Muslim. Maybe with this fatwa, these people could be 'moved'."

Clerics council issues advice on environment
Antara 27 Jul 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued an advice on friendly mining in response to the conditions and serious damage to the environment, a MUI chairman said.

"MUI, based on its serious observation, has issued an edict because it is concerned to see damaged conditions of the environment," MUI chairman for fatwa affairs, Ma`ruf Amin said here on Wednesday.

He said that in Islam damage was divided into two, namely morality and material damages. Damage to nature is attributable to damage to morality so that morality should be improved.

In its edict, the MUI said natural resources could be mined as far as it was aimed for the people`s prosperity, but in doing that it should not cause damage to the environment.

"Based on the MUI observation, our environment has been seriously damaged. Religion teaches us to prevent damage," he said.

In principle, Islam recommends the development of people`s prosperity and the prevention of damage or at least the efforts should be aimed at optimizing benefits and minimizing damage, he said.

"We see that natural resource exploitation has been so excessive that it has also caused damage. Even, there is possibility that our natural resources have been tapped for certain parties not for the prosperity of the people," he said.

Ilyas Asaad, a deputy for environment communication and people`s empowerment at the office of the environment minister, said that MUI and the ministry of environment has signed an MoU on December 15, 2010.

"The MoU, however, was yet to decide what fatwa the MUI was going to produce. So, over the past six months we have intensive discussions until the formulation of a fatwa was finished on July 5, 2011," he said.

He said that the MUI fatwa was expected to serve as a basis for the regional government and businesses in the management of the environment.

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik

MUI fatwa on environment normative reference
Antara 27 Jul 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)`s fatwa (edict) on environmentally-friendly mining reinforces positive law and serves as a normative reference for the government and mining firms in the management of the environment, a minister said.

"The office of the Environment Minister already has a positive law which regulates sanctions against environmental offenses but we also use other ways and means to produce sanctions," Minister of Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta said here on Tuesday.

He made the remarks on the occasion of the launch of the MUI fatwa on environmentally-friendly mining.

The minister said that natural resources had been created to be utilized by human beings but each activity would have impact so that efforts to minimize the impact should be made.

He said that MUI has issued the fatwa on friendly mining of the environment because the impact to the environment of mining activities was bigger than other kinds of activities.

Ilyas Asaad, a deputy for environment communication and people`s empowerment at the office of the environment minister, said that MUI and the ministry of environment has signed an MoU on December 15, 2010.

"The MoU, however, was yet to decide what fatwa the MUI was going to produce. So, over the past six months we have intensive discussions until the formulation of a fatwa was finished on July 5, 2011," he said.

He said that the MUI fatwa was expected to serve as a basis for the regional government and businesses in the management of the environment.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH

MUI's fatwa on environment not iIssued on anybody`s order
Antara 27 Jul 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for fatwa (religious advice) affairs Ma`ruf Amin said MUI`s fatwa on environmentally-friendly mining was not issued by order of any party.

"The MUI issued the edict without being ordered to by any party. So far, many people think that, if a MUI fatwa is in line with the desire of the government, the advice is issued based on an order," Ma`ruf said here on Tuesday.

He said that MUI issued the fatwa based on its deep observation and concern over the serious damage being done to the environment.

The MUI chairman said ulema (Muslim cleric) were concerned about damage to the environment and therefore they had set up an institution dealing with environmental issues, namely MUI`s Agency for Environmental Appreciation.

"Therefore, we are cooperating with the Ministry of the Environment," he said.

In its edict, the MUI said natural resources could be mined as long as it was done to improve the people`s prosperity, but mining operations should not cause damage to the environment.

"Based on MUI`s observation, our environment has been seriously damaged. Religion teaches us not to cause damage," he said.

In principle, Islam recommends the development of people`s prosperity and the prevention of damage or at least the efforts should be aimed at optimizing benefits and minimizing damage, he said.

"We see that natural resource exploitation has been so excessive that it has also caused damage. Even, there is possibility that our natural resources have been tapped for certain parties not for the prosperity of the people," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH