On Monday, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) held the first hearing of its International Parliamentary Inquiry (IPI) on the adverse impacts of industry activities on the environment, particularly focusing on nickel mining and deforestation in Indonesia.
“We need to do better as parliamentarians, we need to protect our people and our environment,” APHR Chair and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Mercy Chriesty Barends said in her opening remarks for the hearing. “We are conducting this inquiry to better understand and hear from each and every one of you and to propose recommendations on what needs to be done.“