Solidarity Invitation
Dear Friends,
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Today at 10.00 am, the masses, totaling more or less 200 people, who have been sitting at the mining location blocked the road when the car of the Vice District Head (Peter Loba) and his entourage were passing on their way to officiate at a ceremony to honor a new road in Nuapin Village. The people had received word of the event the day before so that they did not leave the site and waited for the arrival of the Vice District Head’s car.
When they heard the Vice District Head’s car coming, they moved up and stood along the side of the road. Then the Vice District Head and those with him got out of their car and tried to have a dialogue with the people.
The dialogue was opened by Aleta Baun (Mak Leta) who explained the situation of the problem and the reasons the people were involved in a demonstration. Mak Leta said that for more than one month the people had been sitting at the mining location because they reject the permit that allows mining in their village as well as in other villages in Mollo.
Mr. Melly Oematan also expressed his opinion, stressing what had been said by Mak Leta. Mr. Mel said that, “in the socialization carried out by both the mining company and the government, the people had emphatically rejected the mining plan. The people have rejected the mining by sitting at the mining location for almost 1.5 months. This indicates the determination of the people throughout Kuanoel and Fatumnasi Villages to reject the mining”.
"Based on the people’s rejection up to now, we therefore request the District Head to withdraw the mining permit, not just temporarilty,” said Mr. Polly who furthered Mr. Mel’s position. A total withdrawal of mining permis, not only issued to the company mining in Kuanoel but also other permits as well as other plans to mine in Mollo. The struggle of the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Village and other villages aims to reject all mining permits in Mollo. “For the people, mining is only a source of disaster and never makes us happy/prosper.”
Another person to speak was one of the women (Mama) who was present (Senam Oematan) who said that the mining had caused women to suffer in relation to availability of water and crop harvests. “We (women/mama-mama) must walk even further to obtain water because the water around the location is now polluted while among us now there are pregnant women. The same is true with our crop harvests that will surely be diminished since we can no longer plant on our land that is at the mining site. This condition will certainly cause us women here to suffer more and more so that we are all determined to obstruct the excavator so that it will not ruin our fields, water and rock that have kept us alive all this time.
Hearing the demands and explanations presented by the men and women, the Vice District Head shed tears. He told the people that up to now he was not in agreement with Mr. District Head. Mr. Vice District Head promised to facilitate a meeting of the people with Mr. District Head on Thursday, 24 November 2006 since the people planned to hold a sit-in at the District Head’s office beginning on (that) Thursday.
After that, Mr. Vice District Head left the men and women who were still sitting at the mining location to protect the rock so that it would not be mined. Were the tears shed by the Vice District Head a sign of his commitment to side with the people or…. We wait for further news.
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Today at 10.00 am, the masses, totaling more or less 200 people, who have been sitting at the mining location blocked the road when the car of the Vice District Head (Peter Loba) and his entourage were passing on their way to officiate at a ceremony to honor a new road in Nuapin Village. The people had received word of the event the day before so that they did not leave the site and waited for the arrival of the Vice District Head’s car.
When they heard the Vice District Head’s car coming, they moved up and stood along the side of the road. Then the Vice District Head and those with him got out of their car and tried to have a dialogue with the people.
The dialogue was opened by Aleta Baun (Mak Leta) who explained the situation of the problem and the reasons the people were involved in a demonstration. Mak Leta said that for more than one month the people had been sitting at the mining location because they reject the permit that allows mining in their village as well as in other villages in Mollo.
Mr. Melly Oematan also expressed his opinion, stressing what had been said by Mak Leta. Mr. Mel said that, “in the socialization carried out by both the mining company and the government, the people had emphatically rejected the mining plan. The people have rejected the mining by sitting at the mining location for almost 1.5 months. This indicates the determination of the people throughout Kuanoel and Fatumnasi Villages to reject the mining”.
"Based on the people’s rejection up to now, we therefore request the District Head to withdraw the mining permit, not just temporarilty,” said Mr. Polly who furthered Mr. Mel’s position. A total withdrawal of mining permis, not only issued to the company mining in Kuanoel but also other permits as well as other plans to mine in Mollo. The struggle of the people of Kuanoel-Fatumnasi Village and other villages aims to reject all mining permits in Mollo. “For the people, mining is only a source of disaster and never makes us happy/prosper.”
Another person to speak was one of the women (Mama) who was present (Senam Oematan) who said that the mining had caused women to suffer in relation to availability of water and crop harvests. “We (women/mama-mama) must walk even further to obtain water because the water around the location is now polluted while among us now there are pregnant women. The same is true with our crop harvests that will surely be diminished since we can no longer plant on our land that is at the mining site. This condition will certainly cause us women here to suffer more and more so that we are all determined to obstruct the excavator so that it will not ruin our fields, water and rock that have kept us alive all this time.
Hearing the demands and explanations presented by the men and women, the Vice District Head shed tears. He told the people that up to now he was not in agreement with Mr. District Head. Mr. Vice District Head promised to facilitate a meeting of the people with Mr. District Head on Thursday, 24 November 2006 since the people planned to hold a sit-in at the District Head’s office beginning on (that) Thursday.
After that, Mr. Vice District Head left the men and women who were still sitting at the mining location to protect the rock so that it would not be mined. Were the tears shed by the Vice District Head a sign of his commitment to side with the people or…. We wait for further news.
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