Residents of Pelin Pasi maintain blockade and demand krutu on gold mining

They are demanding not only the repair of the dug-up roads, but also clarity on permits for gold mining and employment for residents from the living and residential area. District Commissioner Gregory van der Kamp of Brokopondo says he wants to organise consultations as early as this week with, among others, the Ministry of Natural Resources (NH), the Ordening Goudsector (OGS) and the residents.

The road was barricaded by residents on Monday due to dissatisfaction over mining activities in the area. According to them, several roads they use to reach their work areas and land have been dug up by concession holders, making them impassable or barely passable.

Van der Kamp confirmed to Key News that he has been aware of the problems for several weeks. Residents had previously held talks with him, after which the DC had pledged to discuss the matter with the Minister of NH and other relevant authorities.

“I am against digging up the road,” Van der Kamp said. According to him, Pelin Pasi is a public connecting road on which residents and other users depend. If it is established that the road has been dug up, it must be rehabilitated, he said.

Police came to barricade twice

The police visited the barricade twice during the action on Monday. According to information provided to Key News at the scene, after the second visit the police indicated that they would return with reinforcements. However, those reinforcements did not appear again during the editorial team’s presence.

The residents made it clear to the police that they want to respect public order, but at the same time pointed out that, in their view, action must also be taken when a public road is damaged or made impassable by concession holders.

The barricade subsequently remained in place.

The residents have made it clear that they will not reopen the road as long as no krutu (community consultation) is organised in which the various issues are discussed with all parties involved. For them, the conflict goes far beyond just the physical condition of the road, they said.

Trucks reportedly diverted via Kwakoegron

The Key News editorial team understands that trucks which normally travelled towards the concession via Pelin Pasi reportedly travelled to the concession area via Kwakoegron after the barricade.

That route is considerably longer. According to information from the area, Pelin Pasi was used precisely because this route provides a much shorter connection to the concession area. Due to the blockade, the vehicles were forced to use an alternative route.

Key News previously observed in the area that several roads had been dug up. In some places, only a narrow passage remained, seriously hampering normal traffic. Landowner Bueno de Mesquita had also previously drawn attention to work that, according to him, is taking place increasingly close to his property plot.

Residents demand clarity on permits

An important issue for the residents is the question of on which permits gold mining activities in the area are based. They want clarity from the government on whether the concession holders involved have actually been granted permission to mine gold there and, if so, which conditions are attached to these permits.

According to the residents, there was no prior consultation with the village communities about the issuing of permits or the carrying out of mining activities within their living and residential area.

They want this to be clarified during the announced krutu (community consultation).

In addition to information on permits, the residents demand that they be involved in economic activities in their own area. They believe that mining activities in their living area should also create employment for the local community.

For the protesters, therefore, merely rehabilitating the damaged roads is insufficient. They want agreements on access to their land and work locations, employment for local residents and community involvement in decisions that affect their living environment.

DC wants to organise krutu this week

Van der Kamp says he understands that residents must be able to reach their work areas. “There must be a solution,” he stated. The DC pointed out that residents have families to support and must therefore retain access to the areas where they are economically active.

He has instructed his district secretary to investigate and document the situation on site. He also says he has informed OGS.

Van der Kamp wants to hold talks with the Minister of NH and other parties involved as early as this week. He then wants to sit down with the residents.

The DC indicated that he would prefer to organise the meeting in the area itself. “I am the DC of the gentlemen and I have to ensure that they also have employment and can work in the area,” he said. According to Van der Kamp, a solution model must be sought together with the community.

For the time being, the residents are maintaining their position: Pelin Pasi will remain barricaded until the government, the community and the concession holders involved provide clarity during a krutu (community consultation) on gold mining, the permits, the damaged roads and the position of the local population.