Whilst this story is two years old it does tell the problems that the villagers face with mining. Maybe its about time GMC shareholders realise the problems that mining causes to these people.
I'm sure some greedy individuals here are only concerned about their profits and really don't care.
The fate of Supul Village residents in the clutches of the Manganese Mining Company
by Tommy Apriando and Indra Nugraha on January 29, 2016
The land of Supul Village residents is deprived of SMR, contaminated springs and rivers. They are threatened by landslides and floods. Everyday life of citizens is intimidated by TNI officers as well.
Agricultural land was confiscated by PT Soe Makmur Resources (SMR) in Supul Village, Kuatnana District, Middle East District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Mining pits are scattered, rivers are polluted. Residents protest.
Sherly, a resident of Supul Village, said that four hectares of land for planting corn, rice and peanuts were destroyed by SMR heavy equipment. He refused manganese mining because it damaged land and water sources.
"We reject the mine, they still spoil our land. The company brought TNI to intimidate us, "he said, when contacted by
Mongabay on Thursday (1/28/16).
SMR entered around 2008 to Supul Village. New Ministry of Forestry permit November 7, 2011. Area of 4,555 hectares, around 695.5 hectares of production forest. At that time, the company started a business by buying people's manganese. Later, the company required the sale and purchase of non-kilo stones but gave it away. About one year, residents feel disadvantaged by the purchase system.
In addition to SMR, there are also beneficiaries willing to buy Rp1,500 manganese. The SMR prohibits the handling of manganese. The reason is that those who have the right to buy only SMR because they have permits in the area. "Recipients are considered to violate the rules of manganese mining because they do not have an IUP."
The community feels dissatisfied with the company system, they are blocking the road to clarify the system of buying manganese. After there is clarity in the purchase and employment contract the company buys manganese at a price that benefits the residents.
It did not last long, when new management changes, company policy changed.On August 15, 2015, the new management invited residents and officials from six mining villages to be attended by the NTT Mining Service, the TTS Police Chief, the TTS District Military Command, the Amanuban Tengah District and Camat. In the socialization, SMR emphasized the earth, water and everything contained in the state's property.
"If the reason for taking the land we use Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, just delete the constitution. The mine does not prosper us, but impoverishes it, "said Sherly.
The police secure the company when residents block the mine road. Photo: Jatam
In line said
Soleman Nasimasi , a resident of Supul Village. He could no longer work on his 3.5 hectare land. Soleman sued SMR. The ownership of Soleman's land was strengthened by the Supreme Court's permanent decision 30 April 2012 with case number 2229 K / Pdt / 2011 with the chairman of the assembly Dr. Mohammad Saleh. However, Soleman's land is still being worked on by the company.
More complicated conditions. Disagreement with the new management agreement that SMR would rent Rp. 100,000 per hectare of land per month, resulting in intimidation. The company, said Soleman, together with the TNI in plain clothes made the landowners afraid. Residents report the village government to clarify. Calling the village government, ignored by the company.
Until 9 September 2015, the company sent two SMR employees, Yusuf Betty and Yeter Selan. They said, the company offered Rp50 million for residents' land as the last offer.
"You are willing to accept the wages please, not even companies want to carry out mining activities on the land owned by the father," Soleman said, imitating.
On September 14, 2015, the company took over the land of Chornelis Betty, with TNI escort from the TTS Kodim. Chornelis could not do anything just to report the invasion of the village government.
The village government asked the company to stop mining in the Chornelis field. The company said the village government had no authority to stop mining as an official licensed company. The authorities, the Governor of NTT.
"Yesterday the company lawyer said that he would continue to mine the people's land until the permit expired. We have reported to the DPRD, the head of the service, the Governor but all are silent. "
Residents already feel the bad effects of mining. Dozens of times they reported waste pollution to the government, the Environment Agency and the legislature. No response. Even on 30 September 2015, Soleman reported to the TTS police station about land grabbing and theft of manganese by the company. There is no action even though the evidence is clear. "Repeatedly we reported, there was no response. We decided to block the mine road, "Soleman said.
Mine holes result from the SMR operation. Photo: Yustinus Dharma, Walhi NTT
***
Wednesday (1/27/16), at 8:00 a.m., villagers occupied the mine road. They carry trees and plant mine sites. They were intercepted by company security officers. There was a beating by company security against residents and journalists from VictoryNews.
Yustinus Dharma from Walhi NTT who accompanied the residents to
Mongabay on Thursday (1/28/16) said that Wednesday afternoon hundreds of TNI soldiers from the TTS Kodim arrived. They intimidate residents to leave mining sites. The vehicle belonging to Reverend Yos Manu from the Masohi Gospel Church of Timor (GMIT) was damaged by the authorities.
"Today the residents again occupy the mine site. Intimidation continues, "he said.
The SMR operation, he said, has polluted residents' water sources, with more than 20 springs polluted by mine sludge and manganese washing. Not to mention, the dangers of landslides and flash floods that threaten residents' settlements due to massive landscape changes in mining impacts.
"The governor and the head of related services do not be silent. Revoke the SMR IUP because it is clearly seizing people's land, damaging the environment and forests. "
Mikael Peruhe, Coordinator of Advocacy Justice, Peace, and Integration of Creation-Order Fratrum Minarum said, when the citizens of the action, the TNI and the police forced them out of the location.
"Violence happened. Not only physically but verbally, swear words to religious leaders who moved the action. Beatings of students and destruction of vehicles of local journalists and priests. "
The TNI, he said, did not only secure the mining site, but also toured the village so that people did not oppose the presence of the company. That the company is present, the community does not get anything. More than profit. It is better that the permit be revoked, "he said.
Residents occupied their land that was seized by the SMR. Foto Jatam
The presence of SMR also caused family noise and conflict. The landowners used by SMR, claimed by other people close to the company, said their land.
"So there are fights between families. I think this pattern is everywhere companies do. Not only at Soe. There is still one more than two hectares belonging to other residents also does not allow manganese mining. Now it is an SMR mine, "he said.
Horizontal conflicts between pro and contra citizens also occur. SMR mining pro community, those who work in companies.
Mikael said, SMR is detrimental to the surrounding community. Before changing the new management, the company agreed to buy manganese rock residents. The agreement only runs a year.
He said, the 287 hectares of agricultural land affected by mining since 2008 in the form of excavation ponds, mining roads, embungs,
washing plants, settlingponds and others, have not been reclaimed.
Citizens, he said, had demanded 2013 reclamation. The company promised 2014 reclamation, but there was none. The NTT Mining Service let, instead, be busy helping SMR socialization so that the community accepts the rent for the SMR land.
In fact, he said, SMR built a large
washing plant that was not contained in the EIA. Initially, manganese mining was agreed upon by a semi-mechanical system, turning into a full mechanic without asking for EIA approval.
To meet the water washing plant needs of manganese, he said, SMR built a large landfill reservoir with a capacity of 230,000 cubic meters, on the Oehonis River without community permission, Public Works Agency. This 12 meter high reservoir covers the community's agricultural land. Even the reservoir is cracked and repaired several times. Heavy rain risks risking leakage and collapse.
"Environmental pollution in the form of dust along mining roads in settlements, and mining locations near settlements. Pollution is complained about by SMR. "The community, he said, has often blocked mining roads in the settlements and asked the company for attention. "The public is threatened if someone blocks the mining business from being able to be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison."
Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, Campaign Manager of the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) explained that the land rent system is detrimental to the landowners who previously supported and enjoyed the manganese production sharing system.
Community action with students occupied their land in TTS, East Nusa Tenggara. Photo: Yustinus Dharma, Walhi NTT
Initial agreement, land rights of Rp 200,000 / ton and sorting (mine workers) Rp. 200,000 / ton, and village community funds Rp. 50,000 / ton. One hectare landowner receives production sharing of 500-10,000 tons of manganese production per hectare, and involves workers to have a livelihood. The change in commitment, he said, robbed the rights of landowners and the community."With a rent of Rp100,000 per month including all plants, it is impossible for landowners to cover their living expenses," said Bagus.
Not to mention the matter of reclamation. Residents ask for ignored reclamation. During this time, there was no reclamation plan and there was no monitoring of reclamation by the government. "If the reclamation fee is Rp200 million per hectare, the reclamation fee is Rp57,400 billion as a reclamation guarantee must be deposited to the government."
For this reason, he said, Jatam together with Greenpeace, KontraS and JPIC-OFM urged from various series of violence and intimidation, both by thugs and state officials, to be a serious concern of the government. The state, he said, must be present as a representation of the sovereignty of the people, not the guards and servants of the corporation.
"Give guarantees to the community, both individuals and groups, who are fighting for environmental safety and human rights enforcement. Make strict regulations preventing the use of state apparatus for corporate interests. "
Mongabay, had tried to contact the Head of the NTT Mining Office, but had no response. As well as confirmation to SMR, until this news goes down there has also been no response.
