Residents occupy marble quarry
Residents occupy marble quarry
MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): At least 2,000 people from
12 villages in the district of Molo Utara have been occupying
a marble quarry in the town of Soe, South Timor Tengah regency,
since Aug. 12.
The residents said that the quarry, operated by PT Karya Asta
Alam, has damaged the environment and contaminated the only water
source available to the locals for their daily needs.
No detailed information was given as to when the quarry
started operating.
The 2000 people are residents of the villages of Lelobata,
Netpala, Netokoko, Leloboko, Boven, Fatunasi, Pidaepono, Tuten,
Tobo, Tune, Sabot, and Ajobaki.
Juleta Baun, an activist from the Sanggar Suara Perempuan
Foundation, a nongovernmental organization dealing with women's
issues, told The Jakarta Post by phone that the residents had
destroyed the workers' camp after the workers and their boss,
reportedly an Italian, had earlier left the site.
Juleta's foundation is now advising the local residents in the
dispute.
The residents' group, which refused to hold a dialog with
South Timor Tengah regent Wilem Nope, plans to send 20
representatives to meet with the East Nusa Tenggara governor on
Aug. 28.
"They want to urge Governor Pieter A. Tallo to urgently halt
the quarrying activities, or else they will continue occupying
the site," Juleta said.
She said that due to the pollution of their water source, the
villagers had had to find another water source located farther
away from their homes.
The existence of the quarry has been proven to bring bad luck,
she quoted the residents as saying.
The quarry operated by PT Karya Asta Alam is located in
Netpala village, some 28 kilometers east of the town of Soe.
According to Juleta, there are four companies involved in
marble quarrying in the South Timor Tengah regency; PT Karya Asta
Alam, PT Kawan Setia Pramesti, PT Soe Indah Marmer and PT Arta
Marinduta. Their operations cover a total of 350,357 hectares,
she said.
Minister of the Environment Sony Keraf has reportedly sent an
official letter to the governor asking for clarification about
the marble companies' operations. (yac/sur)