Efforts made to cool down tension in Tumpangpitu gold mine

To help ease potential future conflict at the Tumpangpitu gold exploration site belonging to PT Indo Multi Niaga (IMN) in Banyuwangi, East Java, illegal traditional miners will be allowed to mine in a section of the area, Kompas daily reported.

The move is expected to ease the tension which has been running high in the area recently. Since 2009, over 200 illegal miners have been sent to jail.

Last July, the miners ? who launched some protests against the firm ? set an IMN?s facility on fire, an incident that led to tough response from the police with two officers allegedly opening fire at the protesters.

A team from the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) was then sent to Banyuwangi to investigate the shooting allegation and help provide inputs for an amicable solution.

The decision to allocate a particular section of the mine for the traditional miners was reached during a meeting Friday among various parties, including the Komnas HAM team and the police. Banyuwangi Police Chief Nanang Masbudi said the illegal miners are required to hold proof that they are Banyuwangi residents.

Meanwhile, the special force anti-riot team from the police?s Mobile Brigade which had been positioned in the area has been withdrawn to further help cool the situation down, Nanang said.

The exploration site has a potentially large porphyry and high sulphidation epithermal gold-silver-copper system. IMN is partnering with Intrepid Mine Ltd in the project, with the Australia-listed miner holding an 80 percent interest. (*)