JAKARTA - Road blocking action to the operational area of PT Masmindo Dwi Area (MDA) in Latimojong District, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, has again disrupted economic activity and investment.
The action, which was on behalf of the 'Rangbuntala Indigenous Children Alliance', was considered to hamper residents' access and interfere with the distribution of daily needs.
Most of the participants in the action were known not to be residents of Ranberbala Village.
They are said to have come from outside the region such as Sriti, Palopo, and Lamission.
This condition triggered public unrest which has been dependent on the economy from daily activities around the area of operation of the gold mining company.
"Residents here are actually affected. We cannot pass because the road is closed, even though this is a general route that people use every day," said one of the residents of Latimojong Hamka.
He considered that blocking action actually caused social tensions and disrupted the livelihoods of local people.
Tensions had increased when Luwu Police officers and the company's security team came to open access roads that were blocked using cars and logs.
Based on information in the field, one of the mass drivers named Jumiati almost ran over the officers when the authorities tried to push back the vehicles used for the blockade. There were no casualties in the incident.
After negotiations failed to produce results, the authorities finally forced the road so that residents' activities and logistics distribution could return to normal.
The police emphasized that these actions included violations of the law because they hindered the public interest and economic activities of the community.
Meanwhile, Head Legal PT MDA Muh Rizki said that the company respects the people's right to express opinions, but rejects actions that interfere with public access.
"We are open to settlement through a legal mechanism. If there is evidence of land ownership, please take it to court. But the blockade only causes losses to the wider community," said Rizki.
The company considers this kind of action to have a broad economic impact, including hampered supply of goods and services to the mountainous region of Latimojong.
In addition, road closures also have the potential to disrupt the sustainability of investment and confidence of business actors in the business climate in the area.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
