Molo's People Struggle

DEMAND THAT HEAD of SOUTH CENTRAL TIMOR DISTRICT WITHDRAW ALL MINING PERMITSin the MOUNTAINS of MOLLO

The indigenous people of Mollo in South Central Timor District (TTS) again took action to defend the sustainability of the sources of their life from damage by the marble mining industry. This time, the PT Teja Sekawan company (Surabaya) wanted to split the Fatu Ob/Fatu Lik rock in Kuanoel Village, Fatumnasi Sub-district of TTS to cut it into blocks of marble for international export.

With perserverance in opposing the intimidation of armed thugs, the indigenous people of Mollo succeeded in forcing PT Teja Sekawan to stop its operations for the time being after a one month sit-in at the mining site. The people also demand that the Head of South Central Timor District withdraw PT Teja Sekawan’s mining permit. However, the District Head has only been willing to freeze the company’s permit for awhile and will form an Independent Team to evaluate the suitability of mining efforts in the mountains of Mollo.

Formation of an Independent Team is often used as a tool to deceive people when, in the end, the exploitation of nature still continues with the excuse that there has been scientific research. Therefore, in order to realize the safety and welfare of the people in the mountains of Mollo the Total Cessation of All Kinds of Mining Efforts must be executed.

We invite the participation of friends to give support to the Mollo indigenous people’s struggle by sending a letter to the Head of South Central Timor District so he will withdraw all permits for mining in the mountains of Mollo.
Send your letters to the following fax numbers:South Central Timor (TTS) District Head 0388-21137South Central Timor (TTS) District People’s Assembly 0388-21365South Central Timor (TTS) District Chief of Police 0388-21400

Copies:Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province 0380-821520East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial People’s Assembly 0380-829453East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial Chief of Police 0380-821544Ombudsman Commission of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province 0380-839367National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) 021-3925227

Attached is a sample protest letter you can edit. You can access the latest news about the actions of the people of Mollo at http://rakyatmollo.blogspot.com/. Please distribute this CALL to ACTION to members of your network/s.

By sending a letter, you can prevent damage to the mountains of Mollo that are important as repositories for water and help the people to defend their rights. You can see the mountain rock that has been turned into chunks of marble at http://www.teja-marble.com/product.html

Salam for Eternal Justice,

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Campaigner Mining Advocacy Network

(Jaringan Advokasi Tambang, JATAM)

Jl. Mampang Prapatan II/30 Jakarta 12790IndonesiaTelp/Fax 021-7941559

Re : Demand to Withdraw Mining Permits in the Mountainous Region of Mollo
To:1. Head of South Central Timor District2. South Central Timor District Chief of Police3. South Central Timor District People’s Assembly Chair

Copies:1. Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province2. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial People’s Assembly Chair3. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial Chief of Police4. Ombudsman Commission of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province5. National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
With respect,
Through this letter we wish to express our regret for the drawnout conflict of the indigenous people of Mollo with PT Teja Sekawan. As you know, this conflict began with permission to mine the Fatu Ob/Faut Lik rock in Kuanoel Village, Fatumnasi Sub-district that was issued to PT Teja Sekawan by the South Central Timor District Head without consultation or considering the interests and safety of the people. The granting of permits in this manner injures the enthusiasm for democracy that should be upheld by government authorities from the central to the regional levels.

The indigenous peoples of Mollo have long lived and depended on local preservation of nature such as water sources, farmland and forests that are the source of their life and income. Several previous experiences indicate that the mining of rock brings damage to nature and finally is a loss for those who live around it.

The following impacts have already been caused by previous mining of a rock, namely Mt. Naetapan, Tunua Village, Fatumnasi Sub-district:1. According to villagers in and around Tunua, the presence of the marble mining company has not given them any benefits. Besides the company not employing one single local villager, promises to build a health facility and a church were never fulfilled.2. Cutting the rock has caused the earth to easily erode. Besides threatening the safety of villagers, the erosion also has eroded their farmland.3. Pollution of water source has resulted from marble dust that pollutes the river when, in fact, this river is used for various needs from bathing to washing clothes.4. Drought. This mountain rock is in a region that holds water for local water sources. The disappearance of the mountain rock due to mining results in drought during the dry season.5. Disturbance of Crops. Mining bans people from using their farmland. As much as 25 hectares of agricultural fields have been snatched by the marble company. As a result the production of crops has been reduced and so also the acquisition of money. Several kinds of annual crops such as oranges have withered and died because they were flooded by water that had been used to drill/rinse the marble rocks.

We warn Mr. District Head that marble mining in the region of the Mollo mountains is an act of mass suicide. This region is an area that catches water that feeds into two large riverbeds on Timor Island, Benanain and Noelmina. Hunders of springs in Mollo and surrounding the feet of Mollo mountains greatly depend on the existence of limestone/marble mountains in Mollo.

The mining of the rock also causes people to be torn apart by horizontal conflicts as well as experience intimidation and violence, both from police as well as armed thugs who threaten their safety. We can surmise it is unwise for a government decision when it does not insure welfare but rather the suffering of the people.

Therefore we urge:1. The Head of South Central Timor District to immediately withdraw all Written Permits for Mining in the Region of Mollo Mountains;2. The Chief of Police of South Central Timor District to order his forces to stop mining activities as well as stop their own acts of intimidation and terror of the people and their supporters;3. The Chair of the South Central Timor District People’s Assembly to be pro-active in handling this case and to admonish all state authorities who abuse their authority.
Thus is this letter we send to be followed up as needed.

Jakarta, 14 November 2006

Respectfully,

Name, Institution