We follow with suspicion how the habitat of the original population is being degraded and destroyed by these mining companies. There are several operating in Halmahera. Permits are issued without any consultation with the original inhabitants or they are misled with false promises.
Today, we increasingly see the effects of mining activities including forests diminishing in number, empty plains increasing, rivers turning brownish-red and muddy, living spaces for farmers and fishermen decreasing while state profits for Jakarta increase.
A lot has happened in the past year namely:
– Demonstrations which is stopped with a heavy hand by the Indonesian state apparatus.
– Activists and students are intimidated and indigenous people are threatened and misled.
– Survival International reports on the threat of genocide of uncontacted tribes in Halmahera.
– An office of a mining company was set on fire last month.
– Last week, two villages revolted, with mining workers being forcibly stopped and driven out.
Saka Mese Maluku tries to bring out as much as possible through our stories on our social media channels. We want to change this to news articles so we can reach a wider audience and inform what is actually happening in the Moluccas. Unfortunately, this takes time but also money which is why we ask you to make a donation.