RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Baru Gold Continues Samples 72.0 g/t Gold and 97.0 g/t SilvThis is the third part newsletter shared by permission
SSI is rocketing to irrelevancy and peaking in uselessness. The pace, slow at first, is about to accelerate. I’m proud to say I was among the first to expose their corrupt intent but now –SSI has annoyed the most senior politicians, perhaps including the President of Indonesia himself, and now the judges are about to deliver their verdict. Things look so bad for SSI that they released a statement that basically says “things look bad!” Wonderful – here is what’s happening since my last post with an update at the end on the court case.
SSI has contacted and pleaded with just about every politician that matters. The result? SSI has received a deafening silence, annoyed just about everyone and decision-makers no longer entertain their objections. Even those politicians that generally oppose mining operations wrote on SSI social media feeds that they have looked into PT TMS and found they are legally allowed to operate.
SSI’s lack of relevance is highlighted by a recent meeting between several senior politicians and the de factor leader of SSI – Jull Takaliuang. The politicians were meeting on Sangihe for reasons unrelated to PT TMS when SSI arranged a demonstration. As part of the demonstration, SSI insisted on meeting with and providing a memo of objections. The politicians agreed to meet first with five then later only with one person from SSI – and Jull nominated herself. Jull described walking into a relaxed lunch that was nearing completion that was attended by the politicians and their wives. Jull started to rattle off her tired objections but was interrupted with one question – if you don’t support this mine on Sangihe what mine would you support? The clear implication is that dangerous illegal mining is already occurring, PT TMS is operating in accordance with the law and the recitation of objections is unnecessary. The relaxed nature of the meeting and questions must have infuriated Jull because the meeting almost immediately concluded with her throwing the paper memo in their general direction and storming off. Basically, Jull threw a childish tantrum in front of key decision-makers resulting in a complete loss of credibility. Bravo, friend. Bravo.
I suspect that SSI might have also annoyed the President of Indonesia. The President visited the nearby island of Manado in late Feb to announce some infrastructure projects. Jull lives on this Island and am sure – but found no evidence – that she took the opportunity to use a bullhorn. One of the President’s stated goals is to do exactly what PT TMS is doing - the responsible development of Indonesia’s natural resources and he has previously expressed disdain for organizations like SSI. Amazingly, a few days after he left Manado the most fascinating development occurred – the National and Political Unity Agency took immediate control of the existence of the registration of community organizations on Sangihe Island, and only registered groups are allowed to undertake public demonstrations. I haven’t yet been able to determine if SSI is a registered agency, but I suspect they aren’t, and this was an initiative to silence and stop SSI demonstrations.
Now, the court case! The last time I wrote about the court case I mentioned that the next and basically last stage of the proceedings was an on-site visit. SSI had to repeatedly delay the visit but they were eventually able to raise the funds for the event. The visit was an absolute disaster for SSI. It’s obvious that the judges will not rule in their favour and they have said that none of the legislation that SSI is relying on for the case is applicable. Ouch.
Here is a summary of the statement released by SSI following the on-site visit. 1) The judges will not consider the merits of the case based on the mining of 42,000 Ha (only the much smaller area of the actual mining concession that no one lives on or uses for much of anything), 2) will not consider the protected forest and mangroves because the mining concession does not impact these areas and both the 3) Law 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining on Small Islands and the 4) Law 1 of 2014 Concerning the Management of Coastal and Small Islands are not applicable. Thus – and in SSI’s own words: “the judges of the Jakarta Administrative Court left disappointment to the plaintiffs [this is Elbi and others of SSI] because they will not consider the legislation associated with Small Islands which was the main point of the case.” SSI has just admitted that everything they are relying on for their case has been deemed irrelevant.
I read a wonderful account of the trial in a local Sangihe news. Apparently the judge stood on the PT TMS construction site and asked where the protected forest is – only to be informed that it was around 30 km away. The endemic birds? Same idea but really high up. Then he asked about a water pipe that was accidently broken during site construction, if PT TMS took responsibility and for how long water was unavailable – PT TMS took immediate action and had the water restored in 4 hours. Then the landowner came over and wanted to know what was happening. When informed, the landowner got angry and wanted to know why people could sue for actions that were being taken on his land; actions that he supported. And then in act of ultimate irony, the rain started and all judges and SSI participants took shelter in the buildings constructed by PT TMS on the mine concession.
The judgement of the case will occur very soon. I assume a week or two. I am convinced that the case will be dismissed as frivolous. PT TMS can use a dismissed case as irrefutable proof of SSI’s lies, exaggeration and misinformation to new stakeholders that are unaware of SSI’s corrupt practices. I am sure that PT TMS will then aggressively pursue for recovery of court costs – they’ve stated as such in their court filings. This will be a substantial amount of money that should destroy the financial standing of the Plaintiffs. As I warned in a much earlier piece I wrote – Elbi and SSI leadership are swinging for the fences in the hope of a massive financial windfall but face financial ruin if they lose. They will lose and will have to face the consequences of being intractable against all reason.