Igor O'Neill, Jakarta
On January 7, riot police opened fire on local residents protesting against the environmental and social impacts of Melbourne-based mining company Newcrest's Toguraci goldmining operation on the Indonesian island of Halmahera. At least one person was shot dead, several were savagely beaten and six were detained.
In October, 2000 locals began a five-week occupation of the Tougaraci deposit.
Activists and traditional landowners protested outside the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas-HAM), the Indonesian government's main human rights body, in central Jakarta on January 8, calling for an investigation into the incident.
"We're here because of the shooting incident towards our people. They were just trying to demand their traditional forest rights and protect the forest", said Usman Sergi, of the Mining Advocacy Network, who is one of 6000 traditional owners from the area demanding that Newcrest compensate them for their land.
Newcrest claims that the protesters were "intruders" and "illegal miners". Newcrest's general manager of corporate affairs Peter Reeve said Newcrest regretted the "incident" but it is "now [a matter] between the police and those people".
Indonesia specialist Dr Damien Kingsbury has challenged the company's account. "Newcrest's denial of responsibility for death and injury at the site is contradicted by the company earlier confirming that it pays senior soldiers and police for protection. If this violence was not at the direct and specific order of Newcrest, then it was by officers employed by Newcrest acting on Newcrest's behalf", Kingsbury said.
Newcrest signed its lease to operate the Toguraci gold mine with the corrupt administration of Indonesia's deposed dictator Suharto. The lease gave Newcrest access to land occupied by indigenous people, without consultation or consent. Local communities are seeking negotiations with the company, asking that their traditional land rights be respected. The company has refused.
[Igor O'Neill is an activist with the Mineral Policy Institute. Visit <http://www.mpi.org.au>.]
From Green Left Weekly, January 14, 2004.
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