Mexico rec'd 2nd write up from Singapore investor; The Save Sangihe Island group isn’t saving anything. They are better named Screwing Sangihe Island (SSI). Their opposition against PT TMS is not consistent nor aligned with the best interests of Sangihe’s economic empowerment and environmental protection. Rather, the leadership of SSI is ethically compromised and seeking their own enrichment to the detriment of Sangihe Island residents.
SSI claims to be a widespread community movement that consists of altruistically motivated, environmentally, economically and socially conscious individuals that are concerned about Sangihe Island. I would encourage any reader to immediately shred any well-intentioned but naïve support of their financially and ethically conflicted leadership. SSI readily admits, including to CNN Indonesia and all over their social media – the government and local authorities do not support them.
The best I can tell, there are three key people pushing SSI propaganda. The majority of the leadership live outside the area covered by PT TMS’ Contract of Work (CoW).
First, there is Elbi Pieter. Elbi is indeed a local resident of Bowone Village. The land under the homes and other built areas in Bowone are not going to be mined. Unless she owns land in the unoccupied vegetated areas, she may not be a direct beneficiary in the on-going land acquisition process. However, she is still working hard to financially benefit from PT TMS by suing the Indonesian government for approximately 6 million CAD dollars to reclaim “material and immaterial damages” on land that PT TMS has not mined. There was no typo in that sentence and you read what I wrote correctly – it’s a nauseating and nonsensical position. I’ll talk more about this later.
Second, we have Jull Takaliuang. Jull is a non-resident living 300 km away on an entirely different island in the city Manado. Jull loves appearing in the media and seems naturally drawn to holding a bullhorn with a clenched fist. She has a long history of protest and is an advocate of women’s rights – I have seen photos of her back in 2015 advertising her attendance at a conference opposing destructive mining practices. SSI has held a number of demonstrations that involve importing non-resident activists to Sangihe. I suspect these are largely Jull’s persona lcontacts.
Finally, there is Alfred Pontolondo. Alfred appears to live on Sangihe Island but outside the area covered by PT TMS’ CoW. He pops up in the news occasionally, attends meetings and is an active social media poster of often incorrect and exaggerated information.His social media posts around mining in Sangihe have an anti-foreigner sentiment full of criticism towards PT TMS. For example – Alfred has claimed that mining is equal to genocide and PT TMS will totally sink, destroy and flatten the Island. Alfred is also the one who publicly implied that Deputy Regent Helmud Hontong was poisoned. Am sure the family of the departed didn’t appreciate the attention to Mr Helmud’s unfortunate but totally natural death. Anyone who is willing to engage in this level of deception deserves nothing but the strongest condemnation.
The membership of SSI is small and almost all of them are non-residents of Sangihe Island. Even those that follow SSI do not appear to be committed, enthusiastic supporters. To measure support, I did a reverse image search on the SSI logo, reviewed the followers ofSSI’s social media channels and the 10,000 or so direct “friend” connections of the SSI leadership itself. Excluding the leadership of SSI, I found five other individuals displaying the SSI logo as a background on their social media pages, and none of them live within the CoW area. In fact, Elbi is the only person I could find that belongs to SSI that meets the qualification of an affected resident! This informal survey supports all the other evidence I’ve gathered.SSI is not a large opposition group nor is it made up of local community members. SSI does have a few old group photos and videos of people protesting with 10s of people in them – but even SSI’s accompanying caption admits that they are non-resident activists.
While overly critical of PT TMS, SSI appears sympathetic and even supportive of illegal mining operations. It is estimated that there are over 200 illegal gold mining holes across the Island. These types of mining operations are notoriously dangerous, rife with worker abuse and death, and result in serious social and environmental damage. The illegal mines have a reputation forusing hazardous chemicals like mercury, allowing toxic runoff into water bodies, contaminating soil and dumping mine tailings directly into coral reefs and mangroves –destroying them. Alfred has posted social media messages in support of these operations. This ethical conflict may explain why SSI has not been able to gain a strong resident following – Sangihe locals know what’s going on.
Perhaps SSI has never condemned illegal mining operators because they are beholden to them? Although I have not been able to independently confirm the allegation, it has been suggested that SSI is being financially supported by the profits from illegal mines. Paradoxically, SSI has spent an enormous amount of time doubting the legality of PT TMS’ permits and commitments to environmental protection and remediation. SSI loves showing photos of the damage done by illegal mines and then associating it with PT TMS. PT TMS has not started mining. Ironically, PT TMS has committed to or has already cleaned up some of the areas damaged by illegal miners on Sangihe! SSI is aware of the legality and binding environmental commitments byPT TMS. On April 30th, 2021 the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources presented SSI with the long history of obtained approvals and commitments of required environmental, space permits and techno-economic plans dating back to at least 2014.
Make no mistake – SSI’s false veneer as an environmental crusader masks their corrupt economic intentions. In March 2021, PT TMS held a 3-day community engagement outreach that - “disseminated plans for mining gold and other minerals, and gave promises of welfare for local residents” in Bow one Village. Elbi Pieter attended this meeting as an affected resident. The meeting was part of PT TMS’ on-going community engagement to discuss and plan on creating opportunities for Wealth Creation and Long-Term Economic Empowerment. I’ll go through the economic opportunities that PT TMS is creating and how SSI is opposing them for personal gain.
The first and most obvious form of wealth creation by PT TMS are direct payments to landowners for usage rights. It appears that PT TMS is offering land owners between 5,000 – 10,000 IDR/m2.The land acquisition prices follow guidelines set by the Indonesian government. SSI has vocally complained about the price of the land and repeatedly draws equivalency to a “bunch of kale.” They do this of course to try and increase the land purchase price by creating the perception that PT TMS is disrespecting and unfairly valuing their land. SSIhas claimed the land should be 10x, 40x, 100x the offered value. Now, why is a group that claims environmental motivation arguing about prices of land? If you have a principled position on never selling then why focus on trying to increase the price? My thoughts and suspicions?!
Elbi (and I’ve read but not been able to confirm that additional people are involved – perhaps Jull and Alfred)is personally suing the government for 71,510,000,000 IDR (around 6.1 million CAD) for material and immaterial damages to land. Anyone with a shred of independence will realize those are insane numbers. However, have you ever wondered how they arrived at such a figure? Simple math: the area of land * the monetary value of it. The higher Elbi can increase the value of the land the more she stands to personally benefit if awarded damages (but don’t worry she won’t get anything from the Courts).
The second major economic benefit provided by PT TMS is the development of the Long-Term Economic Empowerment of the people of Sangihe. PT TMS appears to be doing this in three ways: direct job creation, indirect jobs or entrepreneurship and investment in areas targeted as economic areas of priority by the local government.
In a recent BBC interview, CEO Terry Filbert describes the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs over the next several years. The entire island of Sangihe has an approximate population of 140,000and they are intentionally hiring locals –such jobs will create an incredible contribution to regional wealth creation.
Direct hires for mining operations will create a safe, regulated and consistent employment opportunity. Miners working at illegal operations risk health, permanent disability and their life because they have no other choice. PT TMS provides individuals a safe alternative.
Indirect jobs will create economic self-reliance by creating and expanding local businesses.PT TMS is already supporting local independent businesses. So far, these contributions include buying mining supplies and growing trees for land rehabilitation from local farmers and suppliers, and using transportation or logistical services from local vendors and truck drivers. The amount of support for local businesses will continue and expand. In a recent interview by PT TMS Community Development and Government Relations Manager, Robertus 'Bob' Priya Husada states such support is one of their priorities. PT TMS is working with land owners to either find jobs for them, their relatives or support their independent business aspirations. The business aspiration include supplying items such as fish, burrito, onions, rice, tomatoes and the like to the miners. This is a big deal– one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for many.
Finally, in the same interview with the BBC, Terry states his willingness to invest in whatever areas that the local government deems a priority. Tourism was specifically mentioned as an area they would like to target for investment. PT TMS has stated that they are willing to support their goals. This investment would create hotels and facilities that would allow locals to learn new skills and careers. There are incredibly few opportunities for youth on islands such as Sangihe. New facilities would create life changing careers that would allow locals to stay on the island. If individuals choose to migrate to more urban areas in Indonesia or abroad, they do so with more experience making them competitive for higher paying or senior positions.
Now – back to SSI. Let’s assume Elbi wins damages and gets her 71,510,000,000 IDR windfall (again, she won’t).Where do you think that money will go? You think Ms Elbi is going to use those funds for broad economic empowerment for the people of Sangihe? Unlikely. I would expect she will keep the money and live quite a nice life afterwards, and I’m willing to bet 71,510,000,000 IDR that her retirement won’t be on Sangihe.
SSI and Ms Elbi Pieter are taking actions for their benefit alone. By attempting to disrupt PT TMS they seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the economic benefits of the broader community. The social-economic benefits that PT TMS will bring - gone. And not gone, temporarily – but gone indefinitely.
The people of Sangihe must decide if they are willing to tolerate the enrichment of SSI leadership at their expense.
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East Asia Minerals is an Asian-based, Canadian mineral exploration company with gold and copper exploration properties in Indonesia. The Company has a 70 to 85 percent interest in three advanced gold and gold-copper properties located in Aceh Province, Sumatra, and Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi. The company's Miwah project in Aceh Province has an NI 43-101 compliant inferred resource of 3.14 million ounces of gold and 8.95 million ounces of silver. This is based on an estimated 103.9 million tonne resource averaging 0.94 grams per tonne of gold and 2.68 grams per tonne of silver using 0.20 grams per tonne gold cut-off. East Asia Minerals' shares are listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EAS".
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