NNT ready to hold dialogue on land dispute with villagers

PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), one of the country?s major gold and copper producers, is ready to open a dialogue with villagers who recently disputed part of the mining company?s concession area in the Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

"PT NNT remains committed to holding an open dialogue with the villagers and other related parties to find a fair and constructive solution on the existing problem," the company?s manager for community relations, Malik Salim said in a letter sent to Petromindo.com.

He also expressed concern over the villagers? allegation related to the status of the land which has now become part of PT NNT?s concession area. According to him, all of the company?s mining area is covered by proper legal documents.

He said that about 800 hectares of the concession area were acquired from residents, and carried certificate of ownership in the form of the rights-to-use land titles, while the other 6,417 hectares of the area were acquired from the government through the Ministry of Forestry under leasing contracts.

As the contractor of the government, PT NNT has followed and abode all the existing regulations and laws in the country, he added.

Residents of the Tongo and Sejoring villages which are located in the Sekongkong district, Sumbawa regency recently staged a demo at the office of the Sumbawa regent. The villagers demanded a compensation payment for the forestry areas used by the gold and copper mine operator.

They said that they were no longer able to carry out their farming activities in the forestry area since the company carried out its mining activities. (*)