Threats Lurking Dangers of Mercury Communities in Aceh
September 15, 2014 Chik Rini, Aceh
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 Gold miners were digging a hole to look for gold stones in Manggamat South Aceh. Photo: Chik Rini
A gold miners were digging a hole to look for gold stones in Manggamat, South Aceh. Photo: Chik Rini

The time bomb impact of the use of mercury from gold mining activities illegal ready to explode if government did not immediately set the Aceh governance community mining. Currently, there are 30 thousand people working in 46 small-scale gold mining hotspots in 11 districts in Aceh, which produces 10 tons of gold per year. Most use mercury and cyanide in its activities.

It was revealed from the exposure of a number of resource persons skilled in the discussion of mercury pollution case with the theme of Illegal Mining Policy Analysis and Environmental Pollution undertaken in collaboration with Mongabay WALHI Aceh Indonesia and Green Radio in Dhapu Kupi, Banda Aceh, Thursday (11/09/2014) ,

The event moderated by Yarmen Dynamics (Editor Daily foyer Indonesia) is the sources Rosmayani of Control Agency (Environmental Impact BAPEDAL), Faisal from the Forest Service, Elly Sufriadi (Lecturer Faculty / Chemistry, University of Syiah Kuala), Muhammad Nur (Director of WALHI Aceh) and Yuyun Ismawati (researchers mercury from Bali Fokus).

Present at the discussion of elements of the media, NGOs, and governments such as the Department of Health, Department of Mines and Energy, BPKP Police and Aceh. This is the first forum of mercury that bring together NGOs, governments, researchers and academics as well as law enforcement officers was held on the issue of mercury pollution in Aceh sticking.

Illegal gold mining activities are rampant in Aceh since 2007 has caused a serious impact. In terms of environment, mining activities are carried out in protected forests has caused the destruction of forests in Aceh. The most frightening thing is no indication of disturbance to public health from toxic mercury and cyanide although more research must be done.

Recently, thousands of fish were found dead in the River Geumpang, Tangse, and Teunom suspected initially because of the river polluted with mercury and cyanide from gold processing there. However, information from researchers from the University of Syiah Kuala said fish die as a result of the sulfur from the volcano is around Tangse and Geumpang.

Data Bali Fokus mention illegal gold mining hotspot managed scattered communities in Aceh in Aceh Jaya (Gunong Ujeun, District of Krueng Sabee, Krueng Sabee, inland Teunom, Sarah Raya, Gunung Uteun Ujeun); South Aceh district (Panton Luas Sawang subdistrict, Pasie King, Labuhan Haji and Manggamat); Aceh Besar District (Krueng Gentot and Breuh Island); Central Aceh district (Payakolak, District Ketol and Linge); Pidie District (Krueng Tangse, Krueng Sikolen, Krueng Geumpang, Mount Miwah, Gampong Bangkeh); Subulussalam (one hotspot); Nagan Raya (Pisang Mas in Beutong, Krueng Tripa and Krueng Seunagan); Southwest Aceh District (Sukadamai village and subdistrict Valley Sabil); Gayo Lues district (Tenkereng and District Pantan Weather); and the districts of Aceh Barat (Tutut, Sungai Mas and Krueng Meureubo).

Rosmayani of BAPEDAL Aceh said it had conducted a study of water quality in the vicinity of the River Krueng Geumpang, Tangse and Teunom, one long river flows are connected to one another to downstream. This research was conducted with the Department of Health a few days after the death of fish in the river allegedly because of waste mercury from gold processing activities by the community. "As a result, the river water has been contaminated by hazardous substances," he said.

Head of EIA is justified in 2012 the Ministry of Environment has also conducted research that found mercury levels in hair samples from 40 people around Krueng Sabee, Aceh Jaya in the maximum levels. Residents were taken samples of hair is divided into two groups: a gold processing directly in mining activities and those who do not share the gold mining activities, but it is in the area of ​​processing of gold as a family of miners.

In general, artisanal mining activities in Aceh are not supported by the EIA as much was done without permission. "The environment is high enough acts of the damage. Water quality below the standards. But we have not been able to judge what the cause. Because, a lot of activity around that area as well. BAPEDAL Aceh will conduct further studies of water quality in the three districts indicated no mining activities. "

Elly Sufriadi, Lecturer Faculty of Chemistry, who conducted the research of the gold mining in Aceh strengthen BAPEDAL research results. In 2010, Syiah Kuala University has also conducted research on the waters of Krueng Sabee used as raw material for water taps for two thousand people in Calang, Aceh Jaya district capital. "Water samples were given to mice (Mus musculus) and obtained mice died within 20 days. Baby mice were born without a skull in the head. "

Elly mention of mercury have been scattered in the food chain. Sample mussels and fish found in the river upstream Krueng Sabee has also been found to contain mercury. "The bad news for us Acehnese that we all can not be separated from the dangers of mercury, because it had entered the food chain in nature. We who live far from the mining areas such as in Banda Aceh can also be exposed to impact from consuming fish that migrate from there. "

Elly Sufriadi reminiscent of the case of Minamata in Japan could happen in Aceh if the government did not immediately regulate artisanal mining governance. If allowed harmful effects of mercury in the long term for human health and the environment. "The process of restoration of the environment in Minamata in the 1950s needed funds Rp48 trillion. Can dibayangka how much should we spend to fix the problem pencamaran mercury in dozens of mining sites in Aceh? "

A gold processing logs on the home page Manggamat residents in South Aceh district. Photo: Chik Rini
A gold processing logs on the home page of citizens in Manggamat, South Aceh. Photo: Chik Rini

Yuyun Ismawati researchers mercury pollution impact on the activities of Small Scale Gold Mining (PESK) in Indonesia said many cases as in Minamata that occurred in Indonesia. In the last 10 years, due to mercury poisoning, many pregnant women who give birth to children with disabilities such as idiot, autism and cleft lip. Other symptoms are tremor and could have a stroke. This case is not much exposed and doctors still could not diagnose.

"Mercury is called one-way ticket. Once entered into the human body can not get out again unless the medicines were quite loud. He enters the brain, kidneys and liver, "said the winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009 thanks to the devotion to the trash and sanitation issues in Indonesia.

Mercury entering the food can be checked through its presence in the human body through the nails and hair, while if mercury is inhaled through the air can be checked via the urine. "Examined in hair and nails are exposed to mercury in the long term, the blood was exposed in the short term."

Data Bali Fokus 2010, in Indonesia there are 850 people hotspot mines scattered in 27 provinces with 250 thousand people working with gold production of 65-130 tons per year.

"Culprit is the trade of mercury," said Yuyun.

The illegal trade is done in the mercury-free artisanal mining areas. Mercury came in from Singapore, China, and Malaysia. From the database records Zionet.org sites that monitor global mercury trade, in 2010 the import notifications from Singapore said there were 280 tons of mercury were sent to Indonesia, but were recorded in Indonesia just 2 tons. In 2013 mercury into Indonesia more than 400 tons, while that recorded in the Ministry of Trade is only 540 kilograms. "The rest is done underhand, free admission to many Indonesian port without the need for a letter of certification and strict supervision."

In October 2013, around the world agreed to follow Minamata convesion on Mercury. "We again to push the Indonesian government to immediately sign it because it is important to ensure human health and the environment and the effects of mercury exposure."

Starting in 1990, the phenomenon of small scale gold mining became a trend all over the world, not only in Indonesia. Currently the world's remaining gold deposits are scattered in protected forests, forest conservation, and indigenous land. Difficult for the world's major gold mining companies such as Newmont, East Asia and Miwah go in there because the cost is great. "So, they formed a junior mining companies and partnering with local companies in order to wear the small miners to enter the location difficult," said Yuyun.

The speakers said it was too late for the Government of the people of Aceh to stop mining because there are tens of thousands of people depend on life in this activity. The government should do now is to immediately facilitate the formalization of artisanal mining to facilitate its development.

Director of WALHI Aceh Aceh Muhammad Nur encourage the Government to immediately make artisanal mining governance, establish artisanal mining area, and issue management regulations. "In this way, activities can be monitored so that the destruction of forests due to the opening of the mining, mercury and cyanide pollution can be controlled," says M. Nur.

Yuyun Ismawati said all local governments whose territories are small scale gold mining should immediately create a local action plan included to ban the use of mercury. Meanwhile, the national action plan on the elimination of mercury in small-scale mining has been drafted but not yet determined when it came into effect.

"The government should immediately conduct a medical examination of affected communities mercury and immediately clean up contaminated land," he said.

Elly Sufriadi encourage other ways to process gold without using mercury and cyanide. Because, in the future of environmentally friendly technologies needed to replace the use of mercury in artisanal mining. "People need to be educated how they do not ruin mine."

From these discussions, the parties agreed to reconvene to discuss the technical and immediately met Governor. The goal, prompting the government to take an act on all the recommendations generated during the discussion.

Small-scale gold mining in the forest Manggamat, South Aceh. Photo: Chik Rini
Small-scale gold mining in the forest Manggamat, South Aceh. Photo: Chik Rini

This paper is the result of cooperation Mongabay with Green Radio