IMK accused of driving Dayak villagers out
Tuesday, February 11 2003 - 02:59 AM WIB
Gold miner PT Indo Muro Kencana (IMK) has been accused of forcing people out of their villages in North Barito regency in East Kalimantan to pave the way for its gold mining projects, Neraca daily reported Tuesday.
After the villagers left their areas, IMK, wholly owned by Australian gold miner Aurora Gold Limited, filled in holes they had dug for gold. They were from several Dayak communities including Siang, Murung and Bakumpai.
IMK started its gold mining projects in the villages in 1986 when area people?s life had been improved thanks to their gold mining activities, one of the villagers told a discussion forum on mining in Jakarta Monday.
Sakung, the villager, said his people were not aware that their gold mining activities were illegal because nobody had previously told them about it. (*)