Protesters demanding closure of illegal mining damage legislators' office

Angry residents demanding the closure of illegal gold mining activities damaged the office of the legislative council of the Bungo regency in Jambi province on Tuesday after they failed to meet the council's members to convey their protest, Kompas reported on Thursday.

The daily said that the protesters mostly from Tanjunggeding and Sungaipinang villages in the Muarabungu regency went amok when they found none of the legislators had the willingness to meet them. The protesters entered the council's office, damaged the chairs and the window glass of the council's office.

The residents, who demanded the local legislators to close all the illegal gold mining activities mostly located in rivers near their residential areas, also damaged several motorcycles of the council's members.

The protesters said that the rampant illegal gold mining activities had caused a heavy pollution in the rivers, which they use not only for bathing but also as the source of their drinking water. (*)