Halmahera
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Halmahera (also Jilolo or Gilolo) is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.
Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² (6,865 sq mi) and a population in 1995 of 162,728. As of 1997, about eighty percent of its inhabitants are Muslim, and about twenty percent are Christian.
History
Sparsely-populated Halmahera's fortunes have long been closely tied to those of the smaller islands of Ternate and Tidore, both off its west coast. These islands were both the sites of major kingdoms in the era before Dutch East India Company colonized the entire archipelago.
During World War II, Halmahera was the site of a Japanese military base at Kaoe Bay.
In 1999 and 2000 Halmahera was the site of violence between Muslim and Christian groups that began in and near Ambon and spread through much of Maluku. Thousands of people on Halmahera were killed in the fighting between religious militias. In June 2000, about five hundred people were killed when a ferry carrying refugees from the fighting on Halmahera sank off the northeast tip of Sulawesi island.
Today, provincial capital Ternate is the nearest major city to Halmahera; most transportation to the rest of Indonesia is through connections on that island. Jailolo is the largest town on Halmahera.
Mining on Halmahera
Halmahera is the site of several mining projects.
Australian corporation Newcrest Mining is the majority owner of two gold mines on the island. The Gosowong mine was an open-pit cyanide-leach mine that operated from June 1999 to May 2002, and is now closed. The Toguraci mine began operation in February 2004. This latter mine has been the subject of conflict between local residents and the mining company. The mine is located in a forested area that, according to local residents, is protected under Indonesian law. [1] (http://www.jatam.org/english/case/nhm/) In January 2004 then-president Megawati issued an amendment to the forestry law that, according to Newcrest, ensures that its operations are within the law. [2] (http://www.newcrest.com.au/s06_operations/map.asp?category=0&id=148)
In 2003 and 2004, there were intermittent protests at the Toguraci site by residents seeking to stop the Newcrest mine. Until late 2003, security at the mine was provided by members of the Indonesian military, who were paid by Newcrest Mining's local subsidiary. In October 2003, they were replaced by a private security force; one person was killed and several others injured by these security forces during a protest in January 2004. Further protests and an occupation of the mine site occurred in May and June 2004.
Weda Bay Minerals is engaged in developing a nickel and cobalt mine on the island. The single-purpose corporation, focused only on developing this mine, is a joint venture of two Australian mining companies, and is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. The project is still in an exploratory phase; the corporation expects the mine to last for at least twenty-five years after it opens.[3] (http://www.wedabay.com/)da:Halmahera de:Halmahera et:Halmahera saar fr:Halmahera id:Halmahera nl:Halmahera