SMS: Seven Wonders vs gold mine

Fri, 07/31/2009 2:04 PM  |  Reader's Forum

Your comments on the plans of several companies to explore gold mining near Komodo National Part amid Indonesia's effort to list the park in the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The Komodo creatures living in Komodo National Park are part of Indonesia's assets, and do not exist in any other part of the world. Therefore, this phenomenon should be declared one of the Wonders of the World.

Any activity, including gold mining that endangers its existence, should be prohibited. To move the Komodos from their prehistoric habitat to another place would end their existence.

Soebagjo Soetadji
Jakarta

It is tragic to note that after losing Borobudur temple as one of the seven wonders of the world roughly two years ago, the country has nothing more to sell to tourists except Bali. I remember when I was a tourist guide while also a student at Gadjah Mada University back in the 1970s, foreign tourists flocked in great numbers to the temple especially during the months of May through August, before or after visiting Bali.

I wonder what it's like now that Borobudur is no longer one of seven wonders world. Efforts are being made to get its substitute, Komodo National Park, but this is being undermined by the prospective gold mining explorations nearby.

I think the East Nusa Tenggara Culture and Tourism Agency and non-government organizations should fight and try to persuade the government to cancel the planned explorations. We understand that gold mining is also important for the development of the country and region, but priorities should be taken into account.

Other prospective regions are also available in the country for gold mining without endangering the environment.

This is very important because there is no other alternative ways to invite more and more foreign tourists to Indonesia than to make Komodo National Park one of the seven world wonders. With only around 6 million foreign tourists a year visiting the country, we still have a long way to be on par with Thailand with its 10 million tourists, and 12 million in Singapore.

M. Rusdi
Jakarta

It seems gold mining is already in full swing near Komodo, based on permits issued by the local government, without any proper environmental impact analyses. This is clearly in violation of national environmental regulations.

The mining activities should therefore be halted immediately, while local authorities who issued the licenses should be questioned for their irresponsible actions.

If mining operations are allowed to continue, leaving tailings and junk all over the place, Komodo National Park will soon be able to vie for the title of one of the world's worst junkyards, instead of being declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

V.T. Hopkins
Jakarta

If it's just to be listed in the Seven Wonders of the World, while the gold mining is for the sake of the people's welfare, I think I choose the latter. It would be perfect if we can save both.

E. Nurdin
Jakarta

The important thing is how to protect the endangered species from extinction, and for now only 10 Komodo dragons still live on Komodo Island.

This is because the environment of Komodo Island is not conducive to the Komodo dragons and its land is covered with grasslands that burn easily at any time.

Consequently, it would be better if the Komodo dragons were relocated to Bali Island because Bali has good facilities and has a lot of experience in handling these animals.

Furthermore, it is possible to conduct a breeding program there and the Komodo dragon population could be protected.

Abdul Rahim
Tangerang, Banten

I have to say that we have to reject the plan for the gold mining exploration near Komodo Island. I call for the local people not to vote for leaders who facilitate the mining company to do business there.

I am originally from West Manggarai.

Z. Samuel Sem
Yogyakarta

Having visited Flores several times and having spoken to tourist guides, fishermen and hotel staff in Labuhan Bajo and Riung (who are people from Flores), all of these people told me that there is a thriving illegal trade in smaller Komodo dragons.

Some fishermen said they had been paid to catch small komodo dragons and have been sold these for a couple of million Rupiahs to middlemen who in turn sold them to foreign yacht owners and/or fishing boats.

Tourist guides told me that this has been going on for years and years. Not only does the mining sector destroy the habitat of komodo dragons but the illegal trade in smaller dragons is thriving.

While biologists have already predicted that the number of komodo dragons is dwindling at an alarming speed because of unknown diseases and loss of habitat because of mining activities, they seem to have overlooked the illegal trade.

Newsweek published a price-list of endangered animal species some years ago and the komodo dragon topped the list.

There is only one place in the world where these dragons live and that is on the west coast of Flores, and Komodo and Rinca islands. However, fishermen told me that many of the smaller dragons that were sold to domestic and foreign brokers had escaped and had swum to many of the other islands.

After hearing this, we declined from going snorkelling in and around many of these islands dotting the seas around west Flores. The government should urgently prohibit mining on Flores island because this causes total destruction of the environment and the habitat of those precious komodo dragons and also causes loss of invaluable flora, fauna and marine species.

To immediately arrest those responsible and involved in the illegal trade of these rare protected dragons is also urgently required. Gold is found in many of the other islands but there is only ONE place in the world where these dragons live and that is west Flores.

SBY please, please take action to protect one of Indonesia's most endangered treasures i.e. the Komodo dragon.

Lynna
Bogor, West Java

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