A discussion forum organized by the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) on Monday, September 1, 2025 has brought the issues of polluted water and deforestation in Maba Sangaji, East Halmahera, North Maluku, back to light.

Lukman Harun, legal counsel for the Maba Sangaji indigenous community, said residents have been struggling with deteriorating water quality for years.

“The river water has turned murky and brownish since the early 2000s. It used to be drinkable, but now people fear using it,” Lukman told the forum.

He also highlighted the enduring arrest of villagers involved in a series of protests earlier this year.

Tensions flared in East Halmahera as 27 villagers from Maba Sangaji were arrested during a protest against a nickel mining company accused of polluting water sources and causing large-scale deforestation. The protest, which began in April 2024, escalated into a legal dispute, with four villagers detained and 11 later charged under multiple Indonesian laws.

Lukman described the arrests as a clear case of criminalization. “Villagers were only demanding their right to a healthy environment and clean water. The accusations of carrying weapons were baseless because the tools they carried along with were part of customary rituals,” he said.

Escalation

The villagers’ protest began on April 18, 2024, after concerns grew over the loss of access to clean water and farmland. On April 21, they handed over 17 vehicle keys belonging to the mining company as a symbolic protest. Despite operating since 2024 and contributing to an estimated 200,000 hectares of deforestation, the company has yet to address the villagers’ grievances.

By May 2025, residents intensified their protest through ritual ceremonies and symbolic actions, but were met by heavy security presence from police and military forces. Between May 16 and 18, four villagers were arrested and accused of carrying sharp weapons, extortion, and threatening security personnel.

Witnesses’ testimony in court contradicted the accusations. “Not one of the seven witnesses confirmed that villagers threatened officers with weapons. Evidence shows they carried ritual tools, not weapons intended for violence,” Lukman said.

He added that the legal action violates indigenous rights. “We will continue to fight this case in court and push for corporate accountability for the environmental destruction caused,” he said.

Unresolved environmental issues

The villagers’ main concern remains unaddressed: their river is no longer safe to use, forcing them to carry water and food from neighboring areas. Environmental activists warn that ongoing deforestation threatens the community’s survival.