Kalimantan Indigenous People View Mining Company as a Threat

TEMPO.CO, Medan - Indigenous cultural communities consider mining companies that have entered forest regions as a threat. Nusantara Indigenous Youth Council in Kalimantan, Modesta Wisa, says that the existence of mining companies in West Kalimantan threat its indigenous people.

“The situation in Samabue is dangerous, there are two bauxite mining companies,” Wisa said on Thursday, March 16, 2017. He considers the mining companies will only endanger Bukit Samabue (Samabue Hill) Region, which is a vast 1,214 hectares area.

According to Wisa, the mining company has claimed an 874 hectares land since 2010. However, the hill has been the people’s main water source and is the livelihood of Samabue residents. Especially considering that the bauxite exploration was not announced to the community leader. There are no meeting took place between the company and indigenous community leaders.

Chairman of the Nusantara Indigenous Youth Front, Jhontoni Tarihoran, considers the company’s power at the community’s area will diminish the identity of the indigenous people. The people will only be victims.

Despite this, Jhontoni stated that the people are not allergic to mining companies. He only emphasized that the company should take into consideration the preservation of the cultural communities and the area they live in. “If we were involved in the planning, there would be a meeting point [between both parties], considering that it’s our area,” he said.

DANANG FIRMANTO