Mobilisation, mapping and legal action help indigenous community oppose mining activities

Location: North Maluku, Indonesia

Timeline: 2003 - present

Principal organisations: AIPP

In 2003, fifteen indigenous Pagu communities of North Maluku, Indonesia, started opposing the expanding gold mining activities in their territories, as these activities were causing the contamination of water sources and the ecosystem. With the support of AMAN and AIPP, the communities mapped their territories, mobilised wide support to save the ecosystem of Kao Bay, and filed a petition to revoke the license of the mining company. This prompted the local government to review their mining regulation in indigenous peoples' territories. In 2013, the government recognised the Pagu communities’ land rights in the contested mining area.