Angry villagers burn gold mine facilities in East Java

Angry villagers ran amok, vandalizing and burning facilities at the Tumpang Pitu (Bukit Tujuh) gold mine in Pasanggaran, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, owned by PT Bumi Suksesindo, according to the local media.

As a result of the incident which occurred from Wednesday through the wee hours of Thursday, the firm had various facilities, including the diesel generator room, diesel generator and equipment room badly damaged, according to Kompas.com.

Sabar, a local resident, said the incident is the culmination of the local people?s frustration towards the firm which he claimed has unfairly treated them. ?The firm has never well communicated with the local people,? he said.

Three villagers reportedly suffered wounds, which are suspected to have been caused by gunshots by the Brimob police special force.

According to reports, the villagers have held protests against the gold mine project several time. They are worried that the mining project will lead to the disappearance of the Tumpang Pitu (Bukit Tujuh) hill that now shields their villages from strong wind. The hill was initially listed as a conservation area but the government has allowed BSI to exploit the gold inside the hill.

According to 2012 JORC, the mine holds ore reserves of 90 million tons in its oxide layer. The project is expected to produce 90,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 oz of silver per year from late 2016 to 2025. (*)