"The local government should take concrete steps to cope with the situation."Ambon (ANTARA News) - The Buru District government in Maluku Province is considered lenient with the regulation of gold mining activity at Gunung Batok area on Buru island that has led to a bloody violence.
"If the gold mining site has to be closed, the local government should take the firmest possible action to relocate the local residents and the newcomers from the area," said Maluku Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) member, Una Farida Umasugy, here on Thursday.
She noted that bloody clashes among gold panners at the area have repeatedly occurred.
According to her, the latest clash among the gold prospectors on Wednesday claimed seven lives and left tens other seriously injured.
"The local government should take concrete steps to cope with the situation, because each time the clash erupts, the small people who have always been the victims," Farida noted.
Farida said all along she has reminded the Buru district government to overcome the problem immediately but the bloody clash continued to happen.
"When I did a recess to Buru island some time ago, I heard the complaints from local community about the frequent clash at the mining site but it is the authority of the local government settle it," she said.
Farida added that the bloody clash on Wednesday that claimed seven lives occurred when an unidentified group of people with sharp weapons, explosive materials, and firearms attacked some gold panners at the mining site.
(Uu.O001/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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