Opposition
After it became clear to the local communities that the Toka Tindung Mining project which they before had succesfully halted still during former ownership Aurora, would continue under new ownership, the peoples’ resistance movement formed up again. In September 2005 AMMALTA (Alliansi Masyarakat Menolak Limbah Tambang) was born, a Peoples’ Alliance Refusing Tailings. The alliance succeeded in collecting 7000 signatures from villagers between Lembeh island and Likupang only within weeks.

In December a delegation of ten Allies took the signatures to Jakarta having audiences at several ministries and government agencies as well as the British embassy. Their “roadshow” was well documented by the Indonesian television stations and several national newspapers.
(Jakarta Post 05.12.2005 // Jakarta Post 24.12.2005)

The Ministry of Environment took up the peoples’ issue and sent an investigation team to verify the grievances. The ministry then sent letters to the mining company, the provincial governor and the Ministry of Energy and Mining stating that the company was not holding a valid AMDAL/EIA and therefore asking for a temporary halt of the construction activities until the legal question and also the problem of the disposal of the tailings was solved.

The provincial governor supported this and also sent a letter to the ministry asking to hold the company as he feared for the social peace in the area.The provincial water sports association (NSWA) respresenting the interests of the tourism industry in the area approached the House of Regional Representatives and on December 11th declared its severe concerns about permitting a gold mine in the area (link zu res 4). A hotel operation near Likupang likely to be effected most if tailings enter the sea off Gangga and Bangka islands via the river system filed a lawsuit against PT. MSM. Several landowners followed claiming their land rights were violated by the mining company

Despite all resistance and opposition the mining company though continues to push the construction of the site claiming that it holds a valid government contract. Although it doesn’t hold the permit to dispose of tailings into the sea and build a marine jetty, it called on the district police to arrest villagers who tried to prevent this taking place on their beach. Villagers who pulled out logs were arrested and criminal charges filed against them. Locals being too vocal about their concerns are threatened by the company and intimidated. Thus an intruder into the area who allegedly operates on no valid government permits employs Indonesian police force in a mafioese way to protect their business interest thereby violating human rights of the local communities in a most neocolonial manner.