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)