Musi Banyuasin, KOTABARI.COM – Hundreds of demonstrators who identified themselves as the Coalition for Mining Concerns staged a protest in front of the Muba Regency Office and the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The protesters, comprising mine workers, transport drivers, students, and youth from Muba, expressed their aspirations in response to a demonstration conducted by Gempita (Youth Generation Caring for the Homeland) on Thursday, September 23, 2023, at the South Sumatra Governor’s Office.
During their protest, Gempita proposed that the Governor of South Sumatra and the Regent of Muba close down mining activities and mining roads in the Muratara and Muba Regencies. The Coalition for Mining Concerns felt that the actions of the Gempita NGO were an attempt to divert attention from an issue involving actors strongly suspected to be connected to PT Sentosa Kurnia Bahagia (PT SKB), a mining company that has been in operation for over ten years.
Khoirul SH, one of the representatives of the demonstrators, along with Prasetya DH, Suryadharma, and Arrahman, stated that they observed deviations and the manipulation of issues designed to influence the Muba DPRD and the Regent of Muba to question the mining roads in Muba. They also suspected that this issue was being manipulated by individuals associated with PT SKB.
The demonstrators emphasized the importance of protecting the mining sector and mining roads because many people, including laborers, food vendors, and others, depend on this sector for their livelihoods. They hoped that the Muba Regional Government and the Muba DPRD would provide special protection to the mining sector and mining roads and refrain from causing any disturbances that could harm the thousands of people who rely on this industry.
The Coalition for Mining Concerns also urged the Regent of Muba not to be provoked by issues created by NGOs that they suspected were commissioned by PT SKB. They stressed that thousands of mine workers depended on their jobs and did not want to become victims of conflicts and land issues between PT GPU and PT Sentosa Kurnia Bahagia (a palm oil company).
Additionally, they called on the DPRD to listen to the voices of the people who depend on the mining sector in Muratara and Muba, and requested that the DPRD remain neutral and support the thousands of mine workers, transport drivers, and the community who depend on this sector.
The protest’s coordinator eventually handed over a statement of stance to representatives of the Muba Regency Government, received by the Head of the Human Resources Department, as well as representatives from the Muba DPRD, namely Husin, the Facilitation Staff.
The Statement of Stance from the Coalition of Mine Workers, Transport Drivers, Students, and Youth from Muba Concerned about Mining reaffirms their commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the mining sector and mining transport in Muba, as well as protecting the fate of thousands of mine workers and daily wage laborers who rely on this sector. They also highlight the significance of the mining sector for the national economy and the well-being of the people.