ASIATODAY.ID, HALMAHERA – Hundreds of residents who are members of the Save Sagea Coalition demonstrated in the Chinese company area, PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) Central Halmahera Regency (Halteng), North Maluku, Saturday (28/10/2023).
This citizen demonstration was filled with chaos. The police fired tear gas, causing a number of residents to faint due to shortness of breath.
Action coordinator Mardani Legayelol said that this action was carried out by residents as a form of protest after the Sagea River water was contaminated by nickel mining waste.
In their action, residents urged PT Weda Bay Nickel (PT WBN) to stop polluting the Sagea River.
The Save Sagea Coalition demands four points.
First, ask PT WBN to stop its operations in the upstream Sagea River basin or Sagea area.
Second, carry out restoration and rehabilitation of the Sagea River Watershed.
Third, be responsible for the impact of pollution of the Sagea River. And fourth, request that the Sagea River Watershed area be protected and excluded from PT WBN’s mining plans.
“PT WBN is suspected of being the cause of pollution and damage to the Sagea River in Sagea Village, North Weda District, Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. Today the community around the Sagea River took action to urge PT WBN to take responsibility for pollution of the river which has been the backbone of life village community,” emphasized Mardani.
“We from the Save Sagea Coalition together with residents are carrying out a road boycott to arrest company employees. This movement will continue until the company manager meets us. But our target is PT WBN, not IWIP because WBN is doing the mining,” added Mardani.
According to Mardani, three days ago the Sagea river water was yellow even though there was no rain. Meanwhile, Sagea river water is a source of clean water for residents.
Meanwhile, North Weda Sector Police Chief Ipda Jarot Cahyono said that residents who were demonstrating had exceeded the limits of security procedures. The officers in the field then fired tear gas to dispel the crowd.
“Their demands were not accommodated by the company. This means there was no common ground, so they forced their way in by backing up the truck they were using,” he said. (AT Network)
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