PAGE XX | NEW SUNDAY TIMES
SUNDAY, AUGUST XX, 2014
PHOTOJOURNALISM
NEW SUNDAY TIMES | PAGE XX
PHOTOJOURNALISM
The Dying Tin City
Dabo Singkep is an island of 1602 islands that comprise the entire Riau archipelago. The island was known as Tin City where the island is among the largest tin producer in Indonesia since 1812. During 1992, tin mining was stopped as a result of reduced market demand thus resulting in market prices plummeted. Nevertheless, the villagers still do the traditional tin mining activities. As early as 6am they went to the Batu Berdaun beach with cycling. An equipment such as trays and filters used for mining activities. These activities are done by people who mostly worked as a fisherman as a side job.
According to one of tin miner, Shahri Mukhtar, 43, every day he and his colleagues could produce about 1 kg tin according to weather conditions and environment. Once the activities is finished, the tin will be dried and sold to market with 125 thousand rupiah (35 ringgit) a kilogram. BY ADI SAFRI