Setelah banyak disorot oleh bebagai pihak, termasuk Menteri Lingkungan Hidup (Sony Keraf) yang berkunjung ke Padang, ternyata Koperasi Andalas Madani yang telah mengantongi izin HPHA seluasa 49.650 Ha. Di Siberut itu tidak mundur, tapi malah membuat strategi baru, untuk meloloskan dan mengamankan izin yang telah dikantonginya.

Saat ini PT. Sinar Minang Sejahtera yang kerjasama dengan Koperasi Andalas Madani, mencoba mengumpulkan pemuda-pemuda Mentawai yang saat ini sedang kuliah di Padang. Pribadi dan kelompok pemuda ini diundang untuk diceramahi dan juga diberikan fasilitas, misalnya tidur di Hotel, diberikan uang dan juga sarana lainnya seperti Hand Phone dan juga Sepeda Motor. Beberapa orang dari mereka disuruh bicara di Media Massa (koran) bahwa masyarakat menerima kedatangan HPHA di Siberut, sebagian lagi disuruh untuk turun ke Siberut untuk sosialisasi dan juga mempengaruhi masyarakat untuk tidak menolak HPHA Unand.

Ada yang menarik ketika orang-orang (pemuda Mentawai) yang sudah dibayar perusahaan ini turun ke Siberut, ada masyarakat yang mengadukan mereka bahwa mereka telah membuat surat rekayasa persetujuan masyarakat, dan juga adanya surat rekayasa yang isinya masyarakat Subeleng meminta perlindungan dari Kapolresta Padang Pariaman apabila nantinya Alat Berat Perusahaan diturunkan lagi di Subeleng.

Surkino (kepala Desa Saibi) yang baru datang ke Padang, mengungkapkan bahwa kelompok pemuda itu juga telah datang ke SAIBI (salah satu desa di Siberut Selatan), mereka datang dengan Spead boat bersama orangnya perusahaan, tapi apa yang terjadi..? saat mereka masuk di kampung, para pemuda Saibi langsung membalikkan sampan dan juga Mesin Boat yang mereka pakai, dan sampai saat ini mesin boat itu belum ditemukan.

Berita yang paling memprihatinkan adalah, bahwa PT. Sinar Minang Sejahtera yang kerja sama dengan Koperasi Andalas Madani ini, telah membangun kembali Base Camp, yang dulu dibakar massa, kemudian mereka juga telah membangun lagi jalan disekitar Base Camp dengan lebar + 10 Meter dengan Panjang jalan + 200 M, dengan menimbun rawa-rawa (Bekas Mangrove yang telah dihancurkan) dengan material Terumbu Karang yang diambil di sekitar Pantai Subeleng. Itu artinya bahwa Perusahaan ini belum beroperasi tapi telah menimbulkan kerusakan lingkungan yang cukup besar yaitu merusak ekosistem Mangrove dan juga Terumbu Karang (coral).

Pembahasan AMDAL PT. Salaki Summa Sejahtera

Persoalan tentang LGC yang berobah jadi HPHA UNAND belum selesai, ternyata ada lagi PT. Salaki Suma Sejahtera (PT.SSS) yang juga mendapat Konsesi Hutan Produksi di Siberut seluas 48.400 Ha. Pada hari Sabtu, 30 Juni yang lalu dilakukan pembahasan AMDAL HPHA ini.

Sidang AMDAL ini langsung dipinpin oleh ketua BAPEDALDA Sumbar, " DARMAN SIRI" yang juga dihadiri oleh LSM dan Juga beberapa orang masyarakat Siberut Utara, terutama dari Desa Sigapokna, Desa Malancan, Desa Simalegi, Desa Mongan Poula dan juga Desa Sotboyak.

Dalam pertemuan ini, masyarakat yang datang ini, menyatakan dukungannya terhadap masuknya HPHA ini, kecuali seorang pemuda dari Simalegi bernama Sartoli, dan ternyata menurut penuturan Sartoli ini, bahwa masyarakat yang hadir pada sidang Komisi Amdal itu, adalah masyarakat yang telah dibayar oleh Perusahaan dan juga sengaja didatangkan dengan berbagai fasilitas. Masyarakat itu langsung dimobilisasi oleh dua Koperasi (yang katanya milik masyarakat) yang didirikan oleh Perusahaan dan manejernya adalah pemuda Mentawai yang sekolah di padang.

Saat pimpinan rapat memberikan kesempatan kepada LSM untuk memberikan tanggapan, kondisi mulai panas. Boyce (ED WALHI) menyampaikan bahwa dari awal Walhi telah menolak Amdal PT. SSS ini, kemudian ia juga mengatakan bahwa Proses Amdal ini, seolah-olah hanya diskusi untuk melihat kekurangan yang kemudian nantinya direkomendasikan untuk diperbaiki yang tentunya ahirnya adalah amdal ini dinyatakan Layak. Itu terlihat bahwa tidak ada ketegasa dari sidang komisi untuk menerima atau menolak, tapi hanya memberikan tambahan atau saran perbaikan "katanya".

Tidak kalah sengitnya ketika Sandang Paruhum dari Yayasan Citra Mandiri menyampaikan Saat ini Pemerintahan Mentawai belum duduk, apabila nanti HPHA ini lolos dan Pemda Mentawai duduk serta membuat tata ruang, serta peraturan daerah, tentunya Tata ruang Mentawai harus menyesuaikan diri dengah HPHA ini, lalu dimana otonomi itu…? Kemudian bapak-bapak yang datang dari siberut juga harus sadar bahwa HPHA ini akan beroperasi 30 tahun, jadi bapak-bapak jangan percaya bahwa tanah itu akan kembali kepada masyarakat, karena menurut Undang-Undang Pokok Agraria (UUPA) disebutkan bahwa Hak Guna Usaha apabila sudah berahir, akan kembali ke Negara), salah satu contoh misalnya PT. Minas Pagai Utara Selatan di Sikakap, setelah habis 30 tahun, mereka perpanjang lagi, perpanjangan itu tidak pernah mengikutsertakan atau meminta pendapat dari masyarakat. Mereka mau perpanjang terserah mereka, dan kalau itu dilelang kepada perushaan lain itu juga boleh.

Mendengar itu, pihak koperasi mulai terpojok, karena masyarakat yang mereka bawak itu mulai sadar bahwa mereka dibodoh-bodohi oleh perusahaan melalui koperasi. Kemudian Arsenius dari YCM menambahkan, bahwa ia yakin Masyarakat menerima HPHA PT. SSS ini, bukan karena mereka paham tentang HPH, tapi mereka menerima tidak lain adalah karena pengaruh dari koperasi dan juga janji serta fasilitas yang telah diberikan perusahaan.

Saat pimpinan sidang, menanggapi, Boyce daeri ED WALHI, interupsi dan langsung mengatakan bahwa pimpinan sidang " Darman Siri" (ketua Bapedalda Sumbar), seolah olah telah menjadi juru bicaranya perusahaan dan juga Boyce menuduh Darman Siri sebagai Konsultan kedua dari Perusahaan, mendengar itu Darman Siri langsung menjawab bahwa ia tetap pada posisi Bapedalda, mendengar itu Boyce angkat bicara lagi, bahwa apa yang ia katakan ada buktinya, yang kemudian ia mengunkap kasus LGC Unand yang sebenarnya telah ditolak oleh sidang Komisi AMDAL tapi ternyata bisa lolos di Jakarta, itu pasti ada permainan yang dilakukan oleh Bapedalda, katanya.

Dengan melihat posisi perusahaan terpojok dan juga pimpinan sidang dihantam oleh LSM serta mulai timbul keraguan di masyarakat yang datang saat itu, maka orang-orang koperasi (pemuda Mentawai yang jadi Boneka Perusahaan) mulai mengamuk dan meminta LSM itu diusir dari Ruangan Sidang. Mereka juga mencaci maki LSM serta mengancam apabila LSM turun di Siberut mereka akan menghantam LSM.

Melihat situasi yang demikian, pimpinan sidang langsung menghentikan Sidang.
 
 

Pemilihan Bupati Mentawai Kacau Balau.

Figur-figur yang mengapung dalam pencalonan Bupati dan Wakil Bupati pada awalnya ada 19 orang yang kemudian ditetapkan pada sidag paripurna DPRD Mentawai pada 9 Juni 2001, 19 bakal calon itu adalah.

Akhirnya penyampaian visi missi itu dibatalakan dan rencananya akan berangkat lagi ke Tuapejat untuk lanjutan pada hari Senin tanggal 9 Juli Kemarin, tapi tidak jadi, karena Pengurs Anak Cabang dari PDI-P menggugat DPC atas tidak masuknya Alex Indra Lukman sebagi Calon Bupati. Namun belakangan diketahui bahwa memang di Fraksi PDIP hanay satu orang yang mencalonkan Alex Indra Lukman, sedangkan yang lainnya tetap memilih Edison Saleleubjak sebagai Calon.

Selanjutnya diberitakan bahwa, kamis, 19 Juli direncanakan DPRD Mentawai dan tiga Pasang Calon Bupati itu akan berangkat ke Tuapejat (Ibukota Kabupaten) untuk acara penyampaian Visi Missi, namun apa yang terjadi…?

Sebelum keberangkatan, kelihatan betul bahwa sebagian Besar Anggota DPRD tidak berani untuk berangkat, karena ada ancaman dari pihak-pihak yang disebutkan tadi, namun sebagian lagi tetap komit untuk berangkat.

Sekitar jam 11 malam, kapal yang bernama K.M. ALLOY MENTAWAI berangkat, namun ditengah perjalanan ada kerusakan Mesin, sampai 3 kali, setelah 1, 5 jam perjalanan, salah seorang anggota DPRD, menerima pesan dari teman dekatnya (melalui Hand Phone) bahwa ada informasi di Padang, Kapal yang membawa mereka itu, telah dipasang BOM, mendengar itu, mereka lalu meminta kepada kapten kapal untuk kembali ke Padang.

Saat ini, issu itu sedang dilacak oleh pihak keamanan, dan belum tahu bagaimana agenda pemilihan Bupati mentawai Selanjutnya, karena situasi semakin panas, dan kepentingan-kepentingan yang ada di Mentawai, selalu mewarnai perpolitikan di Mentawai.

Demikian

D. A. KORAIBI.

Divide and Rule Politics, the Destruction of Mangroves and Coral Reef, and the Selection of the New Bupati
16.7.2001

Having been put under the spotlight by various elements, including the Minister for the Environment (Sony Keraf) who visited Padang, it seems that the Andalas Madani Cooperative which has already pocketed a Land Utilization Permit for 49 650 hectares in Siberut, is not backing away. It has actually formulated a new strategy to extricate and guarantee its permit.

At the moment PT. Sinar Minang Sejahtera which is working with AMC is attempting to bring together some of the youth from Mentawai who are currently studying in Padang. Individuals and groups of these students have been invited and talked to and also been given facilities, for example sleeping in Hotels, being given money and other conveniences such as mobile phones and motor bikes. Several from amongst them have been told to talk to the Mass Media (newspapers) informing them that the people have accepting the coming of the HPHA project to Siberut. They have also been told to go to Siberut to inform and influence the community so that they not reject the Andalas Univeristy HPHA project.

It was interesting when those (Mentawai youth) who had already been paid by the company went to Siberut. Some members of the community charged that they had already drafted a letter of acquiescence by the community, and that the document contained a request from the Subeleng community to the Padang-Pariaman district police for protection when the company's heavy machinery was offloaded again at Subeleng.

Surkino (the Head of the Saibi Administrative Area) who had just come to Padang stated that this youth group had been to Saibi (an Admin District in South Siberut) in a speed boat accompanied by company personnel, but what had happened..? When they had entered the village [dusun] the Saibi youth straight away overturned their boat and the motor boat that they were using. Up to now that boat has not been located.

The most worrying news is that PT.Sinar Minang Sejahtera which is working with this AMC has reestablished its Base Camp that had been burned by the locals as well as made the road again in the vicinity of the Base Camp of 10m wide and some 200m long, through the wetland (what was once mangrove which has been destroyed) with reef material taken from the Subeleng beach area. The meaning of this is that the company is not yet operating, but has still caused significant environmental damage through damaging the mangrove and coral reef ecosystem.

Debate over PT.Salaki Summa Sejahtera's Environmental Impact Analysis

Even though the problems with LGC-turned-Andalas University's HPHA are not yet settled, PT.Salaki Suma Sejahtera (PT.SSS) has also got a Forest Production Concession of 48 400 hectares on Siberut. Discussion of the HPHA Environmental Impact Analysis took place on Saturday 30 June. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the West Sumatra Regional Development Board, Darman Siri. It was also attended by NGOs and people from North Siberut, mainly from the administrative districts of Sigapokna, Malancan, Simalegi, Mongan Poula and Sotboyak.

In this meeting those from the community voiced their support for the presence of this HPHA, apart from a young person from Simalegi by the name of Sartoli. According to Sartoli the community members who were attending the meeting had been paid by the Company and had been deliberately brought along through various enticements. Those people had been mobilized by two Cooperatives (said to belong to the community) set up by the Company and its manager is a Mentawai student in Padang.

At the time that those in charge of the meeting gave the opportunity to the NGOs to put forward their views, conditions heated up. Boyce (Ed WALHI) proferred that from the outset Walhi [Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia] had rejected Salaki Suma Sejahtera's Environmental Impact Analysis, and that there had seemingly only been discussion about its deficiencies which were later recommended to be fixed up, and that, in the end, the Analysis was declared OK. That evidences that there was no clear direction from the Commission to accept or reject it, but simply to incorporate suggestions for improvement, so the story goes.

This poisonous atmosphere was certainly in no way dispelled when Sandang Paruhum from the Citra Mandiri Foundation pointed out that at that moment the Government of Mentawai had not yet been determined. When the time came that the HPHA would be passed and the Mentawai Government was in place, along with formulating a governing framework, regulations, such a framework would most certainly need to be in accord with this HPHA, then what about autonomy...? You who have come from Siberut must also be aware that this HPHA will be valid for 30 years. Don't believe that the land will be returned to the people, because according to the Laws Governing Land Tenure once rights in land use have terminated, the land returns to state ownership. An example of this is PT.Minas Pagai Utara Selatan at Sikakap. After 30 years they extended their permit, but this extention did not involve or ask the opinion of the local people. If they want to extend, then that's up to them, and if they want to auction it off to another company then that's their prerogative.

Hearing that, the Cooperative side were backed into a corner, because the members of the [N.Siberut] community that they had brought along began to be aware that they had been beguiled by the Company through the Cooperative. Then Arsenius from Citra Mandiri added that he was sure that the Community had accepted PT.SSS's HPHA, not because they understood HPHA, but none other than because of the influence of the Cooperative and the promises and enticements that had been given to them by the Company.

When those in charge of the meeting were confering, Boyce from ED WALHI interrupted and declared that the meeting's chairman, Darman Siri (Head of the West Sumatra Regional Development Board) had become the Company's spokesman accusing him of being a second consultant to the Company. Hearing this Darman Siri answered that he had a permanent position with the West Sumatra Regional Development Board. Hearing that Boyce joined the conversation again saying that he had proof of what he said, mentioning the case of Andalas University's LGC which had been knocked back by the Environmental Impact Analysis Commission but had apparently been passed in Jakarta. There is no doubt that the Regional Development Board had been playing some games there, he said.

Seeing the Company backed into a corner and those in charge of the meeting under attack from the NGOs, along with the doubt that had arisen amongst the community members who had attended, the Company people (the Mentawai youth who had become Company puppets) became extremely agitated and asked that the NGOs be expelled from the room. They also hurled insults and threatened that when NGO members came to Siberut they would attack them.

Seeing the situation, the convenors stopped the meeting.

The Chaotic Election of the Mentawai Bupati

The figures drifting within the election process of the Bupati and the Deputy Bupati were 19 at the beginning who were subsequently confirmed in the plenary session of the Regional Peoples Representative Assembly on 9 June 2001. These 19 candidates are:

In the end the delivery of vision and mission was cancelled and the plan was to depart for Tuapejat for a continuance on Monday July 9. But this did not happen because Pengurs Anak, a branch of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle challenged the DPC over the overlooking of Alex Indra Lukman as a candidate for Bupati, whereas the others chose Edison Saleleubajak as their candidate.

On Thursday July 19 it was planned that the Regional Peoples Assembly and the three pairs of candidates head for Tuapejat (capital of the Kabupaten) for the vision and mission event, but what happened... ?

Before they departed it was most apparent that a large contingent of the Peoples Regional Assembly were not confident to leave because of threats from the above-mentioned group, although yet another group was committed to departing.

At around 11pm the vessel, K.M. Alloy Mentawai, departed. On the way the engine broke down 3 times. After 1.5 hours into the journey a member of the PRA got a message from a close friend (via mobile phone) that there was some information from Padang, that the ship had a bomb aboard. Hearing this they immediately requested of the captain that the ship return to Padang.

At the moment, this incident is being thoroughly checked out by the security people, and it is not known what the status is with the election of the Bupati, because the situation is getting even hotter, and the various interests in Mentawai always add colour to the political scene there.

And thus it happened

D. A. KORAIBI.