Illegal Gold Mine In Mount Botak, Maluku Still In Progress, Police Burn 25 Cyanide-Made Ponds

Police officers from the Waeapo Sector Police destroyed as many as 25 units of illegal gold baths (Photo: ANTARA)

MALUKU - Illegal gold mining activities in the area of Mount Botak (Buru Island), Maluku are still happening. This is evidenced by the discovery of dozens of gold immersion pools carried out by miners secretly.

The Head of Public Relations of the Maluku Police, Kombes M. Rum Ohoirat, said that from the results of a search carried out by officers from 10:00 to 14:30 WIT, traces of gold mining activities using the immersion method were found.

"There were as many as 25 soaking tubs that were found," he explained in Ambon as reported by Antara, Tuesday, August 3.

As many as 25 units of illegal gold baths suspected of using hazardous chemicals (B3) such as cyanide and mercury were found immediately destroyed by burning.

"When found, the personnel immediately carried out the destruction," said Ohoirat.

His party has also given an appeal to the people living around the area not to enter the mining area.

"Yesterday, the personnel immediately gave an appeal to the community not to enter the mining area and carry out illegal mining activities," he said.

The day before, he claimed to have received representatives of protesters who held a demonstration in front of the World Peace Gong Monument, in Ambon City.

"Yesterday I received the protesters, and they admitted that there are still illegal gold mining activities and the circulation of cyanide and mercury," he said again.

In addition, the demonstrators also admitted that people in the Waeapo plains could no longer consume clean water there due to the widespread discovery of gold processing using illegal drugs such as cyanide and mercury.

"They said that there are many baths that are still operating in Wamsait Villages on Line A and Line B, which have not been touched by the police until now," he said.

To the demonstrators, Rum said that the closure of Mount Botak was not only the police's own policy, but also the regional and central government.

"Currently the security for Mount Botak has been handed over to the Buru Police, and the budget from the local government to support security is no longer available," he said.

Regarding the involvement of police officers, Ohoirat emphasized that his party had never been selective and took firm action against anyone involved.

"We have committed that if there are individuals involved, we will process them, even some members we have fired, some officers we have withdrawn," he also said.