Building a Fortress against Mining Activities

Kompas/Mohamad Final Daeng

The Namu Beach in Laonti district, South Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi, is seen from a seaport on Friday (3/11). The Ruruhi Project environment group and local citizens have developed the village into a tourist site to protect it from massive nickel mining in the area.

In no less than 30 minutes, our motorboat crossed the sea on the southeast coast of Southeast Sulawesi recently. The boat then entered a small bay with a white sandy beach lined with rows of coconut trees. Behind the beauty of the landscape, a fortress has been constructed to prevent mining activities.

A wooden jetty that jutted about 30 meters into clear waters in the coastal area enables visitors to set foot on the mainland. Big letters that read "NAMU" are erected on the beach to identity Namu Village in Laonti district, South Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

In the beginning of the year, the small village declared itself a tourist village. A group of environmental activists in Southeast Sulawesi, called the Ruruhi Project, together with villagers and officials initiated the formation of the tourism-based village.

The village has the potential to become a tourist destination. In addition to its beautiful beaches, similar to those printed in world tropical tourist brochures, the sea around the village can also be used for diving, snorkeling, and fishing. The attraction on land is no less tempting. There are waterfalls, campsites and hiking trails. There are also vantage points to observe anoa, also known as the midget buffalo or sapiutan, which is endemic to Sulawesi.

"Initially we never thought of developing a tourist village," said Muhammad Dong, the chairman of the Village Tourism Group in Namu.

The village has a population of 481 people whose livelihood depends on coconut, cashew nut, clove, nutmeg and areca nut farming. From October to April, when the sea is calm, some residents also seek additional income as fishermen.

The village\'s location is in the remote southeast corner of the Southeast Sulawesi mainland. It is located on the edge of the narrow waters that separate the island of Sulawesi from Buton island to the south and Wawonii island on the east side.

The village can only be reached by sea. It takes about two hours by a car from Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, to the Amolengo Ferry Port. The journey is then continued with  a motor boat that is rented from a villager at Langgapulu village, not far from Amolengo.

With the promise of the beauty of the village and the spirit of the local community, Ruruhi Project, along with its citizens, embodies the concept of a tourist-based village. "This is our  pilot project," said Ruruhi Project’s director,  Yasrin Fior.

Fior added that the formation of the tourism community, which consists of people from various backgrounds and professions, was agreed upon after a meeting with Namu’s villagers in October last year. "After seeing the village, we then gathered friends to join the Ruruhi Project," he said.

Protection

Fior said the community’s main aim was to protect the environment from the threat of mining. Tourism, which would be a boon to the villagers’ coffers, was chosen because of the village’s beauty.

The development of the tourism-based economy would encourage communities to jointly protect their environment from all forms of destruction, including mining activities that ignore ecological factors.

Like most of the mainland in Southeast Sulawesi, mining activities are also rife in South Konawe, including in Laonti district. Namu, along with two neighboring villages, is located within the concession area of a nickel mining company.

Gani, Namu village’s secretary, said a company carried out initial drilling activities at two locations in 2013. In neighboring villages, it acquired land and began to build a road. However, the activities were stopped for unknown reasons.

He said the people opposed the company’s presence. Residents feared the environment would be damaged like in other areas where nickel mines are located. In addition, the presence of mines could also contribute to villagers being expelled from their homes.

Namu resident Arlan, 41, who is also involved in the establishment of the tourist village, said, "I don’t want this village to become a mine site because it will damage the environment."

His opposition stem from his wife who is from Ratatotok, Southeast Minahasa district, North Sulawesi, where the environment was damaged by mining activities.

"I hope that tourism in the village will be supported by the local government," Arlan said.

Self financed

The Ruruhi Project volunteers, together with villagers and officials are building infrastructure facilities on their own. They are also receiving financial assistance from the district government and local legislators to build roads and docks.

A road is now under construction to connect Namu with Amolengo. When it is completed, tourists will have a cheaper and easier way to reach the village.

Gani said tourists are flocking to the village. "Our guest book shows that about 5,000 people graced our shores."

The economy in the village has improved with many people renting out boats, opening stalls and providing accommodation, with 16 homes in four hamlets being used as homestays.

Fior said the capacity and human resources to manage the tourist village would be further improved through management training and tourism operation courses for residents.

The district government also supports the tourist village. In addition to road construction, it will also assist in the renovation of residents’ houses next year so that they can be offered as homestays for tourists.

"The local government will also issue a regulation to support the Namu tourism village. The regulation will then become the legal basis for tourism activities in the village," said Fior.

The regulation is also expected to encourage the issuance of other local regulations that can promote South Konawe’s coast as a tourist area.