Gold Mining Related Conflict in Tumpang Pitu Banyuwangi

East Java

Joharotul Jamilah

, Muhammad Ismail

and Edwin Syarif

Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Conflict, Escalation, Gold Mine, Qualitative

Abstract: This paper examines the existence of gold mining in Tumpang Pitu Banyuwangi which impact community

conflict. The presence of a gold mining company transforms the natural landscape of Tumpang Pitu from

protection and water catchment areas into extractive quarry areas. The protracted conflict which involves many

actors, creating tidal dynamics and escalation of the conflict like peacetime, tension, and violence, through

pre-conflict, confrontation, crisis, post-conflict, and conflict. This study uses the qualitative method to obtain

in-depth data about the picture of the conflict in the community. The conflict occurred as a result of gold

mining companies causing degradation of the protected forests that cause water resources polluted and reduced

in the communities. There is pollution of seawater and soil due to the disposal of gold waste, resulting in

decreased agricultural yields and fish catch for farmers and fishers. This conflict involves various parties such

as corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations, farmers, fishers and tourism activists. The

period 1995-2006 is a pre-conflict that occurs between communities, companies, and governments. In 2006-

2014 the confrontation phase, 2015 crisis and the peak of the conflict were anarchism, 2016-2017 stages of

post-conflict and consequences of unrest and violence that harm the company and the community.

1 INTRODUCTION

The study of natural resource management conflicts

in several regions in Indonesia exists everywhere,

namely the perspective of regional authorities in

managing these natural resources. There are two

schools in analysing the perspective of natural

resource governance, the anthropocentric perspective

and ecological perspective (Jati, 2012).

Anthropocentric perspectives see that natural

resources exist to meet human needs so that people

can use them as much as possible. However, an

ecological perspective sees that natural resources are

created, which requires a balance between the needs

of nature and humans because both creatures need

each other.

The conflict includes the acquisition of

communal-based natural resources from the people in

the name of increased income and economic growth.

So at this level, the regime acts oligarchical repressive

by trying to prioritize the interests of the elite

economy rather than the economic interests of

society. The implication that arises is that the

economic resources of the community get the

recognition in the economic development.

Conflict of natural resources is relatively rampant

in gold mining in Tumpang Pitu, for example, conflict

over water resources in Bali (Cole, 2012) and

Sukabumi (Fitri, 2014); conflict in conservation areas

(Kuswijayanti, Dharmawan, & Kartodihardjo, 2007)

and agrarian conflicts in Urutsewu (Cahyati, 2014);

and conflict over the curse of diamonds (Nashih,

2014). As quoted by Cahyati (2014), the relationship

between conflict and natural resources is through

three ways, according to Alao (2007), namely

resources as a cause of conflict, resources as factors

that extend conflict, and resources as means to

overcome conflict.

When referring to Le Billon (2001) (Paivi,

Gleditsch, & Gilmore, 2005) and O'Lear (2005)

(Billon, 2001), the abundance or scarcity of resources

can create conflict. Conflict arises due to the lust of

greed to get the maximum benefit from abundant

resources; conflict can also be the cause of struggle

for scarce resources to survive.

Tumpang Pitu in Banyuwangi Regency has the

potential of natural resource wealth in the form of

gold and copper. However, the emergence of disputes

or social conflicts followed the abundance of gold in

Tumpang Pitu. The conflict occurred involving

Jamilah, J., Ismail, M. and Syarif, E.

Gold Mining Related Conﬂict in Tumpang Pitu Banyuwangi East Java.

DOI: 10.5220/0009933216431650

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Recent Innovations (ICRI 2018), pages 1643-1650

ISBN: 978-989-758-458-9

1643

various parties such as the local government (district

and district DPRD), mining companies and

communities around Tumpang Pitu.

The existence of gold mining in Tumpang Pitu has

an impact on changes in the natural landscape and the

potential for socio-economic impacts on the lives of

the surrounding communities. Changes in the natural

landscape can be seen from changes in the Tumpang

Pitu area and its surroundings which initially included

protected forest and limited production forest as the

extractive mining areas. This change in the natural

landscape is not only a change in the status of a

region, but the operation of mining has the potential

to cause environmental pollution in coastal and

marine areas. Environmental pollution will have an

impact on the activities or livelihoods of fishers and

tourism activists. The operation of mining is

suspected to result in disruption of the availability of

water resources and the occurrence of drought for

farmers. Therefore, one of them appears to be a

rejection of mining operations.

Conflict over the existence of mining in Tumpang

Pitu began in 2006. In 2006, the permission Tumpang

Pitu area exploration was published and planned the

scheme of the exploitation phase. This exploitation

condition keeps paradoxical damage to natural

resources in the surrounding environment which are

increasingly severely damaging. It is the source of the

conflict phenomenon because the community does

not maximally enjoy the distribution of natural

resources. There are many conflicts over the

ownership of natural resources which involve many

trinities of actors such as government, people in

business, and the local community. Therefore, this

research is to examine the dynamics of gold mining

conflicts, relations between the parties related to

resources or the environment, and environmental

changes and their impact on the surrounding

community.

Based on the problems described above, the

research questions are as follows:

1. How did the history of Tumpang Pitu

conflict arise?

2. How do the conflict and the escalation occur

with the presence of gold mining in

Tumpang Pitu?

3. Whom did the actors involve in the conflict

at Tumpang Pitu?

2 THEORETICAL STUDIES AND

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conflict

Fisher et al. (2000) interpret conflict as a relationship

between two people/groups who have different goals.

Unlike conflict, violence in the form of actions,

words, and behavior that cause physical,

psychological, social and environmental damage.

According to Ritzer (2005) three main ideas that

underlie conflict: (1) society is always in a process of

change that is marked by a continuous conflict

between its elements; (2) each element will contribute

to social disintegration; and (3) the order contained in

society is caused by pressure or force from above by

the ruling class. Fisher (2000) divides the factors that

cause conflict, namely: (1) Power is power,

legitimacy, authority or the ability to force others.

Power can be derived from authority, access to

resources, networks, abilities/expertise, information

and resources caused by one's personality; (2) Culture

determines how people think and act. Cultural

differences often cause conflict; (3) Identity. Conflict

often arises due to the imposition of or not the

recognition of a particular identity to a person or

group of people or because of the appearance of

prejudice; (4) Gender is a difference between men

and women who are socially constructed which

results in power differences between men and

women. It tends to cause conflict potentially, and (5)

Rights are dimensions of social and political conflict.

Similarly, Fisher et al. (2000) explained that conflict

changes every time, through different stages of

activity, intensity, tension, and violence. Fisher et al.

(2000) describe five stages in a conflict that generally

arise after a group or individual can identify the cause

of conflict.

The long-standing conflict of parties in Tumpang

Pitu will be analyzed through conflict escalation so

that the dynamics of conflict will surface.

2.2 Political Ecology

Blaikie and Brookfild (1987) define political ecology,

as quoted by Afiff (2009) (O'Lear, 2006), as the

concerns of ecology and political economy in a

broader sense "(an analysis that concerns ecology and

what is known as political economy). The political

ecology approach examines politized environment by

understanding environmental changes referring to

political and economic processes (Fisher, Andi,

Ludin, Smith, Williams, & Williams, 2000).

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According to Robbins (2004) as explained by

Cole (2012) there are four dominant narratives in

political ecology, namely: (1) Degradation and

marginalization; (2) environmental conflicts; (3)

Control and conservation; and (4) environmental

identity and social movements. Political ecology

positions power as a key concept, besides involving

actors such as the state, multilateral institutions,

business people, environmental NGOs

(environmental nongovernmental organizations), and

local actors (grassroots actors). Bailey, 2007) With

the power of one actor can control the environment of

other actors. How to control actors against the

environment of other actors through: (1) controlling

the diversity of environmental resources by

monopolizing valuable environmental resources; (2)

controlling the priority of environmental projects and

programs carried out by the state to overcome

problems; (3) control through discourse or ideas.

Therefore according to Bryant (1998) research on

political ecology prioritizes understanding the

political dynamics surrounding the material struggle

and environmental discourse. In this research,

political ecology approaches to analyze changes in

natural resources / environment and relations between

factors related to the environment so that this research

attempts to trace the occurrence of environmental

degradation and conflict and marginalization.

Therefore, this ecological-political study has

always criticized and questioned the concept of

political economy in developmentalism which has a

major role in environmental change. Both nature and

humans have been in a binary opposition relationship

where humans who are considered as regulators of

natural resources on this planet always act arbitrarily

against the environment so that they become

damaged.

In reading cases of natural resource conflicts in

the local sphere, developmentism based on the

management of traditional resource governance is

still the main thinking orientation. The logic of

developmentism that bases on the economic growth

that permeates, but seeps it not to the bottom is the

general pattern that occurs in these various con icts.

There are not many regions in Indonesia that

implement ecological management in governance

because it is the same as wasting themselves into rich

areas. The demand to raise local revenue (PAD) is the

main motivation for governance itself to be absolutely

state and corporate property? The implication that

arises later is that there is a structural income

inequality in which the government gets richer while

the people suffer even more. This phenomenon is

often referred to as the curse of natural resources that

the true presence of natural resources to bring

prosperity, instead, presents rivalry and suffering.

The weakening function of the state towards

corporations and markets creates resistance from the

public to rise up against these injustices.

The Tumpang Pitu gold mining research was

analyzed using conflict theory, especially regarding

conflict escalation. Because the gold mining conflict

lasted relatively long and long so it was important to

see the dynamics of the conflict. To sharpen the

analysis of natural resource conflicts in Tumpang Pitu

a political ecology approach is also used. This

approach is to see environmental problems / changes

such as pollution and so on, and their impact on

society. Likewise, political ecology deepens the

relationship between parties or actors related to

natural resources or the environment.Therefore, this

ecological-political study has always criticized and

questioned the concept of political economy in

develop mentalism which has a significant role in

environmental change. Both nature and humans have

been in a binary opposition relationship where

humans as regulators of natural resources in the

universe, are always acting arbitrarily against the

environment and damage it.

2.3 Literature Review

Some of the literature that researchers managed to

find related to social conflict due to the struggle for

natural resources, research on the picture of social

culture and economics in Tumpang Pitu Pesanggaran

Banyuwangi and conflict management in resolving

conflicts in natural resource conflicts, especially

mining.

Research by Robby Firman Syah and Miftah Adhi

Ikhsanto (2013), entitled "Mining Gold in the Land of

Using: Power and Conflict Management at the Pitu

Gold Overpass in Banyuwangi District" shows the

results of conflict management efforts formed by the

Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas in managing gold

mining conflicts Overlapping Pitu in 2011-2013. The

problem in this study is that the Tumpang Pitu gold

mining natural resources revenue sharing requires

policies and rules that are part of development in

Banyuwangi Regency. The theory used in this study

refers to the concept of authority on Ralf Dahrendorf's

conflict theory and the concept of conflict

management. The research method in this study uses

a case study method. The results of the study show

that the mining problems of Tumpang Pitu arise as a

result of interactions between actors that are social,

cultural and economic. Changes that occur include

capital decomposition (a change in the share structure

Gold Mining Related Conﬂict in Tumpang Pitu Banyuwangi East Java

1645

that puts the Banyuwangi Regency Government in

possession of a 10% non-dilution share free of

charge). The decomposition of the workforce shows

that the cooperation that has been built between the

community and the corporation through the opening

of access and community empowerment. The

emergence of a new middle class with the increasing

economic capacity of the people in the mining area of

Tumpang Pitu. Based on the strategies and policies in

dealing with the problem of Tumpang Pitu gold

mining management, it can be concluded that the

Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas succeeded in placing

consensus among actors involved and in direct

contact with the Tumpang Pitu gold mining. Regent

Abdullah Azwar Anas built authority from conflicts

of interest towards community-based sustainability

development in the management of the Tumpang Pitu

gold mine in Banyuwangi Regency.

Subsequent research is a study from Moerad et al.

(2014), with the title Mapping Socio-Cultural Society

of Sumber Agung Village, Pesanggaran Subdistrict,

Banyuwangi Regency "has the purpose of research

intended for; To obtain data on mapping

(identification and inventory) of sociocultural

communities in the area of potential mining; and

looking for a community-based management model

for the potential of the Mining area. The results of this

qualitative descriptive study show that the level of

education of respondents is relatively moderate,

namely the high school level, with an active

participatory level without any rejection of the

presence of a mining company, provided that the local

community participates in its management. The

conclusion of the study that the characteristics of the

community that need support for the presence of a

mining company is active participation by involving

all norms, values and habits that have been running in

the research area.

Other research related to natural resource conflict

is Baiquni & Rijanta's research on "Conflict in

Environmental and Resource Management in the Era

of Community Autonomy and Transition

(Theoretical Understanding and Empirical Meaning)"

which resulted in a policy of regional autonomy

launched in the midst of a multidimensional crisis and

the transition of civil society , bringing a number of

implications and complications in its implementation

at various levels. Regime reforms and sudden policy

changes from centralization to decentralization took

place in situations of uncertainty marked by economic

crises, social conflicts and political turmoil.

Meanwhile tensions, disputes, conflicts and even

conflicts with violence are still taking place in various

parts of Indonesia.

Meanwhile the research that examines the

research area, namely Tumpang Pitu, was also carried

out by Moerad, et al., Which was titled "Mapping the

Potential and Economic Impact of Communities in

the Bukit Mining Area of Tumpang Pitu

Banyuwangi". This research has a purpose to see how

socio-economic changes occur in Sumberagung

Village community due to the Tumpang Pitu gold

mining. This study uses quantitative methods. The

results of the study indicate a change in economic

potential. Starting from the type of livelihood,

community income, to the pattern and daily lifestyle.

Sumber Agung village no longer reflects inland

villages but rather shows the tourist village. The

settlement of the villagers has changed its function to

become a Homestay, and Guest House is a private

mining employee.

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The researcher uses a qualitative approach in this

study. It is a process of scientific research to

understand human problems in a social context by

creating a comprehensive and complex picture that

reports detailed views of the source of information,

and carried out in a scientific setting without any

intervention from researcher (Barney, 1992, 11)

(Bryant & Bailey, 1997), (Creswell, 1994, 11-12)

(Barney, 1992), (Strauss, 1996, 6) (Strauss & Corbin,

1996)The data collection uses primary data and

secondary data. Suyanto (Creswell, 2009, 263)

(Strauss & Corbin, 1996) stated that in collecting

primary data, researchers obtained the data from the

field or research location through results with

observations, unstructured interviews, and

documentation.

The interviews that the researchers used as the

data collection in this study were some informants

who could interview researchers, namely the Gold

Mine environment community who were in pro and

contra about the existence of the mine, village chief,

member of the Second Regional Parliament in

Banyuwangi Regency, village environmental security

apparatus, employees and former employees and

NGOs. Data collected by researchers is primary data

that is not written in the form of words and actions, as

well as secondary data in the form of written data on

books, photocopies, photographs, and video

recordings and news broadcast by the mass media and

other documentation. The data process used

categorizing technique by looking at the theory in this

study to find suitable findings to answer the research

questions. To ensure the validity of the data the

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researcher had carried out examination techniques

based on specific criteria, namely extension of

participation, the persistence of observation,

triangulation, examination colleagues, member

checking, and referential adequacy. For the part of

analysing and interpreting data, researchers organized

and sorted the data into patterns, categories, and basic

unit descriptions so that the theme can exist.

The process of data analysis in this study began

by examining all available data from various sources,

namely from observations, interviews, and

documentation. Next, the researcher reduced the data,

made an abstraction that could connect the categories

and then compiled in units of information to

determine and define the categories of units and then

categorized in the next step. The categorization was

carried out simultaneously with coding (Surya, 2009).

After this stage was complete, then the

interpretation stage of the data commenced in

processing the interim results into substantive theory

using specific methods

4 RESEARCH FINDINGS AND

DISCUSSION

4.1 Research Findings

Tumpang Pitu mountain area is located in

Sumberagung Village, Pesanggaran Subdistrict,

Banyuwangi Regency. Tumpang Pitu area is a

mountainous region which is a protected forest and

production forest in Banyuwangi Regency. Mount

Tumpang Pitu is surrounded by three National Parks,

namely in the west is Meru Betiri National Park, in

the east is Alas Purwo National Park, and in the north

is Baluran National Park. In addition, the region also

has three forest cutting areas (KPH) such as the West

Banyuwangi KPH, North Banyuwangi KPH, and

South Banyuwangi KPH. Gunung Tumpang Pitu is

estimated to have a very high gold content and can

produce around 70 tons / year.

Gold exploration activities in Banyuwangi have

changed mining companies from 1991 to 1994 by PT

Gamasiantara (Golden Eagle Indonesia), then

continued by Korea Toosun Holding from 1994 to

1997. Then, conducted by Golden Valley Mines

(1997), Placer Dome (1999-2000). and the Hakman

Group JV. In 2006, PT Indo Multi Cipta (IMC)

changed its name to PT Indo Multi Niaga (IMN) to

continue exploration activities.

The licensing process for the management of gold

mining has been quite long, it has been recorded since

2006 that a Certificate of Review Permit (SKIP) and

Mining Proxy for General Investigation have been

issued to PT IMC and subsequently in 2007 an

Exploration Mining Authority in the name of PT IMN

was issued in 2008 issued Exploitation Mining

Authority. In 2010, along with the enactment of Law

No. 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining,

the Exploitation KP of PT IMN is adjusted to become

a Production Operation Mining Permit (IUP). Then in

2012, IMN submitted an IUP deduction to PT Bumi

Suksesindo (BSI) to date.

Since 2000 the community around the Tumpang

Pitu hill, Banyuwangi Pesanggaran has been aware of

the existence of a gold mine, and many of them are

trying to switch from agricultural activities, farming,

and fishers to traditional gold miners. The gold mine

in Tumpang Pitu is estimated to have a very high gold

content and can produce around 70 tons per year

(ICDHRE Foundation, 2008: 2).

In 2006, investors entered PT. Indo Multi Niaga

(IMN) which was granted permission by the

Banyuwangi Regent (Ratna) in 2008-2014 to conduct

gold mining exploration in the forest area with an area

of 11,621.45 Ha. Some cover conservation forest

areas in Siliragung and Pesanggaran Districts. Data

from Pesanggaran District (2011), initially the

number of traditional miners reached 12 thousand

people from the local area as well as from outside the

city such as Jember, Situbondo, Bali, and Solo. Many

Immigrants worked as gold miners from outside the

Banyuwangi area even from abroad.

Based on the survey in the field and reinforced by

news in Kompas Media in July 2012, since the mining

project in the Tumpang Pitu hill area, Pesanggaran,

people's lives have changed, they are no longer safe

and harmonious instead compete with each other so

that their households become messy. It is because

family heads as traditional miners invest their capital

in participating in exploration, with the aim of earning

more income than as a farmer and cultivator.

However, for years, what they hoped would not come,

they must meet the needs of their families. The

business of traditional gold miners which is

considered illegal is also forcibly closed by the local

government through the local authorities. So there

was a social conflict in the District of Pesanggaran

especially the Bukit Tumpang Pitu area, between the

community and the company and the local

government. The conflict began to raise because

residents thought that exploitation by PT. IMN was

permissible while the traditional gold mining

community was not allowed to be chased and

imprisoned because it was considered damaging to

the environment. Thus, the number of traditional gold

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1647

miners reduced to around 250 people. However, later,

IMN sold 80 percent of its shares to four corporations

so that the Banyuwangi government could negotiate

with the corporation (Kompas, July 2012).

The communities around Tumpang Pitu mainly

come from farmers, fishers, traders, laborers, and

others who only rely on small boat and nets as well as

makeshift agricultural land to make ends meet. Since

the existence of a gold mine in Tumpang Pitu, they

have the opportunity to change jobs to become

traditional miners who are more promising results.

Therefore, many people change their profession to

become gold miners.

The conflict emerged due to the negative

ecological impacts of this mining, changes, and

damage to the environment around Tumpang Pitu.

Tumpang Pitu was a source of water for the

surrounding community, and it reduced even

contaminated with waste from the mining. The

community's agriculture is also damaged, such as the

peeling of dragon fruit crops, and fishermen's fish

catches are reduced, due to seawater contamination of

the waste. Another impact was the damage to the

village roads that were passed by the transportation

equipment which carried heavy equipment for

mining. Coupled with the conflict that occurred

between residents who worked in mining companies

and those who refused, because they did not meet the

requirements of the mining company.

In 2010, along with the enactment of Law No. 4

of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, the

Exploitation Mining Authority of PT IMN is adjusted

to become a Production Operation Mining Permit

(IUP). Then in 2012, IMN submitted an IUP

deduction to PT Bumi Suksesindo (BSI) to date.

The process of transferring IUP from IMN to BSI

had caused problems. The reason is, Intrepid Mines

Ltd, an Australian company that used to work with

IMN, sued the Banyuwangi Regent, Abdullah Azwar

Anas, to Surabaya State Administrative Court. The

lawsuit dated March 14, 2013, demanded the

revocation of the BSI exploration and production

IUP. Intrepid, all this time has felt disadvantaged in

the exploration of the Tujuh Bukit mine,

Banyuwangi. In the project, Intrepid IMN has

collaborated with Intrepid Mines Ltd with 80% share

ownership. However, without the knowledge of

Intrepid, IMN sold IUPs to BSI. The decision of the

Banyuwangi Regent gave the approval of the transfer

of the IUP for exploration and operation, considered

to be legally flawed. In the Minerva Act, Article 93

paragraph 1 states that IUP holders cannot transfer

IUP to other parties. The decision of the Banyuwangi

Regent was legally flawed including the policy that

approved changes to the share ownership

composition. %). MSJ gave a 10% stake to the

Banyuwangi Regional Government. The decision of

the dispute resulted in an agreement that PT IMN

provided compensation of US $ 80 million for

Intrepid IMN Ltd.

On February 19, 2014, the Australian company

announced that it had reached an agreement to settle

a dispute in the ownership of the Tumpang Pitu gold

and copper mine. Intrepid was willing to release 80%

of the shares, and instead, they got the US $ 80

million in cash. On the official intrepid website,

intrepid leader Ian McMaster stated, in the settlement

agreement, the company agreed to end all claims and

disputes over the proposed Seven Hill project.

With the announcement, a hot conflict of the gold

mine between Intrepid Mines, BSI, and the

Banyuwangi Regency Government ended. The two

companies signaled that there was no more polemic

regarding mining permits in Tumpang Pitu,

Sumberagung Village. With that decision, all claims

were deemed to be invalid. The agreement came out,

establishing BSI through Merdeka Serasi Jaya as the

manager of the gold mine and the Banyuwangi

district government got a 10% golden share from the

Tumpang Pitu gold mine.

4.2 Discussion of Research Results

Based on the 2016 Agrarian Reform Consortium

report, 450 cases of land conflicts almost doubled

from 2015. The conflict covered a land area of

1,265,027 hectares or tripled from 2015. The 2016

conflict involved 86,745 families, while in 2015,

there were 108,714 families.

The social conflict occurred at the Tumpang Pitu

village gold mine Sumberagung district Pesanggaran

Banyuwangi district, was a conflict about the

differences in interests between the community

(farmers, fishers, traders,), NGOs, Bumi Suksesindo

(BSI) mining management company, and

Banyuwangi district government. People want the

Tumpang Pitu Mountain not to be exploited to extract

gold and minerals contained in it because Tumpang

Pitu is a source of water and their lives. Also, the

community around Tumpang Pitu is worried that their

environment will be damaged due to mining waste

that is harmful to their lives. Meanwhile, the company

has an interest in Tumpang Pitu Mountain because of

business benefits, while the government has an

interest in improving the regional economy and the

welfare of its citizens.

Thus, the social conflict that occurred in the

Tumpang Pitu gold mine, Pesanggaran, is relevant

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when examined with Fisher's conflict theory so that it

shows how the conflict arises. The conflict escalated

from pre-conflict to post-conflict, and it also revealed

the dynamics and the actors who were involved in the

conflict.

The emergence of social conflict in the Tumpang

Pitu gold mine, when traced from the chronology of

the discovery of the gold mine, has been quite a long

time from 1995-1996 to 2017. The period 1995-2006

was a pre-conflict stage that occurred between the

community, company, and government. Since 2006-

2014 the stage of confrontation, 2015 was a crisis

period and was the peak of the conflict. This year

there was anarchism by the community who opposed

the existence of mining by burning company

facilities/infrastructure and police violence as

government officials against the protesters with

shootings and arrests on the protesters. 2016 -2017

stages of the consequences and post-conflict of riots

and violence that harm the company and the

community. The company suffered material losses

due to the burning of facilities and infrastructures,

while the people who were shot and detained by the

police suffered physical (shot) and non-physical

(trauma) losses. With the riots and violence that

occurred in this conflict, the Banyuwangi district

government, in this case, the Regent Azwar Anas held

an open dialogue with the community around

Tumpang Pitu and the company to reach an

agreement and end the conflict.

The actors who involved in this social conflict are

from the community; there are farmers, fishermen,

traders, tourism activists, NGOs, mining companies,

Perhutani, Banyuwangi district government, Ministry

of Forestry, Ministry of Environment and AMDAL,

DPRD and East Java Governor. All of these actors

joined in direct conflict with each other, and some

were indirectly in conflict.

Regarding political ecology, the Tumpang Pitu

gold mining is experiencing degradation and

deforestation. As a result of the exploitation of gold

and other minerals, the Tumpang Pitu mountain area

which was initially a protected forest, then obtained

part of the permit into production forest so that it can

be explored and exploited. Thus the protected forest

in Tumpang Pitu experienced deforestation and

degradation due to the logging of the trees to be

excavated by the soil, as well as the previous

excavation of the soil leaving gaping holes.

Furthermore, the ecological damage around Tumpang

Pitu is caused by gold waste (tailings) which can

pollute rivers, seas, and land if the authorities solve

the waste to be environmentally friendly. Relatively

long and long-standing conflicts involving many

actors create conflict and escalation of conflict.

Conflict escalation experienced ups and downs of

relations between parties such as periods of peace,

tension and violence. One party, such as the

community and NGOs, maintains arguments about

environmental sustainability and people's livelihoods

so that there is a rejection of gold mining. While other

parties such as companies and regional governments

aim to increase Regional Original Revenues and

profits of the company so that gold mining is needed.

After the end of the conflict with violence, there

was negotiation between the company, the

community and the government. Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) is one solution to this conflict

issued by the company to the surrounding community

through education, economic, health and

environmental assistance programs. Whereas with the

Banyuwangi district government, the company

provided a free 10% non-diluted share capital

structure. Although violent conflict ended which

caused losses on two sides (company and

community), latent conflict between the people who

continued to reject gold mining continued until this

time

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