G-Resource's assets burned in protest

By Cepi Setiadi

Hong Kong-listed gold miner G-Resource recently reported to have several assets, namely operational vehicles and waste pipes, burned during a protest conducted Tuesday by the people of Hutaraja, Muara Hutaraja, Bandar Hapinis, Mabang Pasir, Raniate and Bandar Tarutung villages of Muara Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

The burning of the Ford Ranger unit and pipes took place within the agriculture area of PT Perkebunan Nusantara III, located within Pulo Godang subdistrict. No casualty was reported.

Company Media Relations Manager Katarina Hardono stated that wrong information related to the company's waste management process sparked the protest.

"They thought we directly channel our waste to the Batang Toru river, while the truth is that we already processed the waste to comply with the quality standards before channeling them to the river," she said, adding that the waste management process is done in a tailing storage facility provided by the company.

Protesters spokesperson stated that the people are disappointed because the company insists to dump the waste, processed or not, into the river, for fear it will destroy the livelihood of the surrounding community.

Editing by Er Audy Zandri