Loeha Raya Pepper Farmers Association denied that it held a meeting with PT Vale and agreed to mining in Tanamalia.
In fact, according to the Loeha Raya Pepper Farmers Association, that meeting did not represent Loeha Raya people, because the meeting was attended by people who do not have pepper plantation in Tanamalia.
Chairman of Loeha Raya Pepper Farmers Association, Yahya Muchtar, regretted that PT Vale claimed to have met with the community a few days ago and spread false information that community agreed that Vale would carry out good mining in Tanamalia.
“The meeting does not represent us as Loeha Raya people, let alone does not involve farmers and women in Loeha Raya, so we ask PT Vale not to create fake news,” said Yahya.
Yahya Muchtar said, even if PT VALE implemented Good Mining Practices, it would not be a solution for us as farmers, it would actually be detrimental to society because the impact of the company’s existence is very damaging to environment and farmers’ plantations.
“Even though PT Vale implements good mining practices, there is no guarantee that farmers’ plantations are free from mining impacts, in fact it actually damages environment and our plantations,” continued Yahya Muhtar.
Ali Kamri Nawir, one of the residents who is part of the Loeha Raya pepper farmers association, said that community meeting with PT Vale did not represent people’s aspirations in Loeha Raya.
“This meeting does not represent our aspirations at all, PT.VALE should have met us directly on the other side to discuss the conflict in Loeha Raya,” Ali Kamri Nawir said firmly
According to Ali Kamri Nawir, we also invited PT. VALE to meet directly with Loeha Raya farmers and discuss with us but until now they have not met farmers.
“We invited PT Vale several times to meet directly with people in Loeha Raya but they never came to the village to meet us,” continued Ali Kamri Nawir
Therefore, the Loeha Raya Pepper Farmers Association will continue to fight to reject PT Vale Indonesia’s mining in Tanamalia Block because it threatens environment and plantations owned by Loeha Raya farmers Which has changed our lives and made us prosperous
“We from the Association will continue to fight against PT Vale Indonesia’s mining, especially in the Tanamalia block, because mining will damage environment and plantations. Because everyone should know that we have been enjoying plantation products for a long time and pepper has made us prosperous” concluded Yahya.
