Thousands leave Buru island following mining conflicts

Thousands of traditional miners have left their mining areas in the Buru islands during the past several days following conflicts in the area which killed two people, Kompas reported on Thursday.

At least 2,000 departed for Ambon on Wednesday with MV Lambelu, which is owned by state shipping company Pelni, when the ship left the Buru island, also part of Maluku province.

Karim, one of the traditional miners, said that most of the traditional miners left their mining area on fears of the worsening of the conflicts with the local residents which had taken place for several times in the past.

He said that the police had also prohibited the miners to enter their mining areas following the conflicts. At least two people were killed in the clash this week, rising the number of people killed due to clashes in the mining areas to 14 people since the mining areas were first opened in early 2012.

Thousands of people from other parts of the Buru island rushed to the mining areas to hunt for gold since the discovery of gold deposits last year. They mostly used traditional equipment to carry out their mining activities. (*)