Over the years, incidents began to crop up with villagers pointing to the mining company. During the exploration phase in January 2012, drilling resulted in a waste leak that polluted rice fields at the foot of the hills in Bongkaras village and the Sikalombun River. In 2018, logging in a forest to make way for the tailings facility that would hold waste was suspected by residents to be the cause of flash floods that destroyed agricultural land and homes and claimed lives.
Following the permit revocation, Dormaida Sihotang, 47, another female farmer living in Lae Haporas village, said their struggle was successful.
“I feel relieved after the company’s permit was revoked,” she said.
Rainim, who cultivates various crops on her farm including durian, coffee, snake fruit, chile peppers and other perennials, also said she no longer worries about living in the village and can now freely manage her agricultural land without fear.