Indonesian court allows mining in protected forests News
Indonesian court allows mining in protected forests

[JURIST] Indonesia's highest court Thursday rejected a challenge from environmental groups and upheld a law enabling 13 mining companies to operate in protected forests. The Constitutional Court ruled that the law did not violate the 1945 constitution [text] and that the government must honor commitments to the companies [Dow Jones Newswires report]. Such mining was banned in 1999 but in 2004 a law allowed companies with existing contracts to continue operations. That law was upheld in Thursday's ruling. AP has more. Meanwhile, Indonesia has affirmed its environmental claim against Newmont Mining Corporation [corporate website; JURIST report], a US company it alleges polluted a local bay. The government filed a $133 million civil suit against Newmont, which denies the charges [press release]. Conflicting test results have delayed the trial, and a settlement is now being considered [AP report].

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.