Press Release
12.09.2006
Pers Release
PRESS RELEASE
On Wednesday, 6 December 2006, at about 13.30 Central Indonesia Time, eight (8) trucks delivered about 300 to the office of the TTS People’s Assembly. At the office across from the office of the District Head, these people tried to carry out an opposition action to chase away the indigenous people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel and other villages who reject marble mining. Their sit-in had been going on for nearly two (2) weeks without them causing any damage or violence.
This happened when there were not so many at the district head’s office, only about fifty (50) and most of them women. Most of the people who had been sitting at the District Head’s office had left in order to begin planint since the rainy season has arrived. But those who remained did not tremble in the slightest. Although they were pressured to return home, those who were involved in the sit-in just remained motionless and didn’t budge from the office of the District Head. “If we must die here, then we’ll just die here and there is not one person who can scare us. In life there are only three things: Happiness, Problems and Death,” they said.
This is not the first time the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Villages have spoken like this. Since they began their action to reject marble mining in their village last October until recently when they came and sat at the TTS District Head’s office, they have one resolve: to struggle so that the marble mining permit issued in August 2006 to PT. Teja Sekawan Surabaya is revoked. This company has ruined the environment by mining Fatu Ob, a sacred rock of the traditional people of Mollo. If they are now ordered to return home by their own brothers and sisters, it’s clear they won’t accept it. This struggle is very important for the people of Mollo. This is evident because not only members of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel have been carrying out this action, but people from the villages of Tune, Bonleu, Nenas, Fatukoto dan Lelobatan have also actively participated.
Nevertheless, up to now, no action whatsoever has been taken by the person in charge of the local government, in this case, the District Head of TTS, Drs. aniel Banunaek. As with his behavior on previous days, the District Head remains absent and refuses to meet with the masses gathered at his office. His behavior is highly irresponsible and can result in very big risks, namely the breakout of conflict among the two groups of people. The potential for this is high considering the number of those who have come – with very organized transport – to oppose those at the sit-in.
Provocation and attacks on the people are likely at any moment. It is still fresh in our minds the incident at Naitapan in April 2006 when thugs attacked (threw things at) opponents of the marble mining who were blocking the mining location and the police did not intervene and just let them be hit. But when the people tried to retaliate on their attackers, the police (security forces) arrested activists and local leaders.
Considering the situation, we request that:1. the Governor of NTT immediately mediate the conflict between the people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel Villages with the District Head of so that this problem does not drag on; 2. the provincial Chief of Police provide protection and security for the people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel Villages who at this time are still sitting at the District Head’s office;3. request security forces to arrest the provocateurs who are baiting the people with anarchic behavior.
The rejection by the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Villages and other villages regarding the mining of Faut Lik and Fatu Ob is based on critical awareness that has been born among the people. The presence of the mining company only gives birth to ecological disaster for all the land of Timor Island and cannot ever be changed by anything. It is time we began to think how to preserve the balance of the environment for our children and grandchildren in the future.
Respectfully,
Kelik Ismunandar
Manager Advocacy and Issue DevelopmentPikul
Contact No: 081339178762
Pers Release
PRESS RELEASE
“PROTECT AND IMMEDIATELY END THE CONFLICT OF
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF
FATUMNASI-KUANOEL vs DISTRICT HEAD OF TTS”
On Wednesday, 6 December 2006, at about 13.30 Central Indonesia Time, eight (8) trucks delivered about 300 to the office of the TTS People’s Assembly. At the office across from the office of the District Head, these people tried to carry out an opposition action to chase away the indigenous people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel and other villages who reject marble mining. Their sit-in had been going on for nearly two (2) weeks without them causing any damage or violence.
This happened when there were not so many at the district head’s office, only about fifty (50) and most of them women. Most of the people who had been sitting at the District Head’s office had left in order to begin planint since the rainy season has arrived. But those who remained did not tremble in the slightest. Although they were pressured to return home, those who were involved in the sit-in just remained motionless and didn’t budge from the office of the District Head. “If we must die here, then we’ll just die here and there is not one person who can scare us. In life there are only three things: Happiness, Problems and Death,” they said.
This is not the first time the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Villages have spoken like this. Since they began their action to reject marble mining in their village last October until recently when they came and sat at the TTS District Head’s office, they have one resolve: to struggle so that the marble mining permit issued in August 2006 to PT. Teja Sekawan Surabaya is revoked. This company has ruined the environment by mining Fatu Ob, a sacred rock of the traditional people of Mollo. If they are now ordered to return home by their own brothers and sisters, it’s clear they won’t accept it. This struggle is very important for the people of Mollo. This is evident because not only members of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel have been carrying out this action, but people from the villages of Tune, Bonleu, Nenas, Fatukoto dan Lelobatan have also actively participated.
Nevertheless, up to now, no action whatsoever has been taken by the person in charge of the local government, in this case, the District Head of TTS, Drs. aniel Banunaek. As with his behavior on previous days, the District Head remains absent and refuses to meet with the masses gathered at his office. His behavior is highly irresponsible and can result in very big risks, namely the breakout of conflict among the two groups of people. The potential for this is high considering the number of those who have come – with very organized transport – to oppose those at the sit-in.
Provocation and attacks on the people are likely at any moment. It is still fresh in our minds the incident at Naitapan in April 2006 when thugs attacked (threw things at) opponents of the marble mining who were blocking the mining location and the police did not intervene and just let them be hit. But when the people tried to retaliate on their attackers, the police (security forces) arrested activists and local leaders.
Considering the situation, we request that:1. the Governor of NTT immediately mediate the conflict between the people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel Villages with the District Head of so that this problem does not drag on; 2. the provincial Chief of Police provide protection and security for the people of Fatumnasi-Kuanoel Villages who at this time are still sitting at the District Head’s office;3. request security forces to arrest the provocateurs who are baiting the people with anarchic behavior.
The rejection by the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Villages and other villages regarding the mining of Faut Lik and Fatu Ob is based on critical awareness that has been born among the people. The presence of the mining company only gives birth to ecological disaster for all the land of Timor Island and cannot ever be changed by anything. It is time we began to think how to preserve the balance of the environment for our children and grandchildren in the future.
Respectfully,
Kelik Ismunandar
Manager Advocacy and Issue DevelopmentPikul
Contact No: 081339178762
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