Climbing the Stratification Ladder and the Decreasing of Small Entrepreneurs Number in the Field of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi

Abstract

Tulisan ini merupakan hasil penelitian tentang pertambangan emas skala kecil di Desa Tatelu yang berada di tanah milik masyarakat. Tambang ini sering didatangi tamu  yang melakukan studi banding dan aktivis LSM yang membantu mengatasi masalah pencemaran. Hasil kegiatan penambangan telah meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat. Indikator peningkatan kesejahteraan ekonomi masyarakat di Tatelu adalah pasar desa yang buka setiap hari, b ank, kantor p egadaian, dan mini market. Stabilitas dan regularitas kegiatan tambang muncul setelah konflik memperebutkan lubang tambang berhasil diatasi. Semakin mahalnya biaya penambangan, karena lubang tambang semakin dalam, menyebabkan munculnya stratifikasi sosial-ekonomi di antara para penambang dan pengusaha tambang. Jumlah pengusaha dengan modal kecil semakin berkurang dan pengusaha dengan modal besar semakin menguasai pertambangan. Pertambangan ini bisa bertahan karena terjadinya pelanggaran terhadap peraturan pemerintah mengenai batas maksimum dalamnya lubang tmbang. Ada kesepakatan diam-diam diantara para pengusaha tambang, pemerintah desa, aparat yang berwenang di bidang pertambangan, dan polisi. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif pada bulan September-Oktober 2017. This paper is the result of research on small-scale gold mining in Tatelu village located in the community-owned land. The mine is often visited by guests who are conducting comparative studies and NGO activists who help overcome pollution problems. The results of mining activities have improved the welfare of society. Indicators of increasing community economic well-being at Tatelu is a village market that is open daily, banks, pawnshop offices, and mini-markets.The stability and regularity of mine activities arose after the conflict for mine holes was successfully overcome. The more expensive mining costs, because the mine holes are getting deeper, leading to the emergence of socio-economic stratification among miners and mining entrepreneurs. The number of entrepreneurs with small capital is increasingly reduced and entrepreneurs with large capital increasingly control the mining. This mining can survive due to violations of government regulations regarding the maximum depth of the hole. There is a tacit agreement among mine entrepreneurs, village governments, authorities in the field of mining, and police officers. This research was conducted using qualitative research methods in September-October 2017.