Cukong is Rampant, Illegal Gold Mining on Buru Island Difficult to Close

The illegal gold mining area on Buru Island, Maluku, is difficult to stop. The financiers are free to operate without fear of being prosecuted by the rule of law.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Motorcycle drivers carrying materials passed a dirt road inside a wildlife reserve in Gunung Botak, Buru Island, Maluku, on Tuesday (20/6/2023). One motorcycle can carry loads of up to 300 kilograms of mining materials.

NAMLEA, KOMPAS - Until Thursday (27/7/2027), illegal gold mining activities in Mount Botak, Buru Island, Maluku, are still operating. The presence of large-scale bosses is suspected to continue the practice. However, many lives have already been lost in the area due to landslides and murders.

Mato (27), a miner from Buru Island, stated that there are now hundreds of mining holes. Each hole is controlled by a wealthy mine owner who provides the funds. The minimum capital needed for each hole is Rp 100 million. Each hole usually employs five people.

"The tycoons come from outside of Maluku. They have a lot of money," he said.

The capital is mostly used to purchase wood for supporting walls dug more than 30 meters deep. With a diameter of less than 2 meters, many similar holes are scattered within the ground.

"The existence of the hole is risky because it is located on very unstable ground. As a result, many people are buried when the ground collapses. They cannot be saved, let alone evacuated," he said.

There is no exact data on the number of artisanal miners who have died. Aside from work accidents, the cause of death is conflict among the miners themselves.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Fuel mobilization to illegal gold mines in Mount Botak, Buru Island, Maluku, on Tuesday (20/6/2023). The price of one liter of pertalite there reaches IDR 25,000.

However, Mato stated that the miners work without fear. It is not due to the potential for work accidents, but rather because there are bosses who guarantee their safety.

If there is a plan for enforcement, the miners have received preliminary information and will immediately evacuate. After feeling safe, they will return again.

All of that is equivalent to the result of gold processing in Gunung Botak. Despite some failures, many mining bosses are lucky enough to reap profits up to twice the amount.

It is not surprising that currently there are at least 13,000 miners trying their luck there since 2011. The mining area even covers up to 250 hectares.

Previously, Royke Lumowa, the Chief of the Maluku Regional Police from 2018-2020, stated that during his service in Maluku, he was once "tempted" by a number of tycoons. Royke was offered bribes worth tens of billions of rupiah per month if he allowed illegal mining to continue operating.

Royke refused it. He continued to close the mining location during his duty there. Royke also regularly came to Gunung Botak to ensure that the mining operations were not being carried out. However, after Royke was transferred, the mining activities resumed.

Also read: Armed Personnel at Mount Botak Illegal Gold Mine

Environmental damage

Professor Yusthinus T Male from Pattimura University in Ambon urges illegal gold mining to be closed immediately. The reason is that environmental damage has become increasingly severe. One of the causes is the use of hazardous substances such as mercury and cyanide.

The results of Yusthinus' study in 2015 show that the concentration of mercury in sediment, water, and marine biota on the coast has far exceeded the threshold. Now, after eight years, the concentration of mercury is confirmed to be much higher.

"There have been no further studies, but one thing is certain, the environmental condition is getting worse," he said.

FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Justinus Thobias Male

Moving forward, Yusthinus urges the central government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, to immediately designate Mount Botak as a mining area. The aim is to manage Mount Botak with environmental sustainability principles.

Previously, MIND.ID, the mining holding under the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, had encouraged PT Aneka Tambang Tbk to explore mining business opportunities on Mount Botak. The first step was to hold a meeting with local community leaders and traditional leaders (Kompas, 23/6/2023).

Also read: Searching for Illegal Gold Mining Solutions on Botak Mountain