Nethy Dharma Somba and Markus Makur, Jayapura, Timika – Residents in Nomouwodide, Bogobaida district in Paniai, Papua, seized Wednesday a helicopter scheduled to haul heavy equipment to a small-scale gold mine at the Degeuwo River.

"We seized the helicopter because the company that consigned the equipment has yet to hold a discussion with the trial owners of the land," local resident Mama Magai told The Jakarta Post in Paniai.

"We will release it only after an agreement between the company and residents has been reached."

The small-scale gold mine in the Degeuwo River has been worked manually over the past nine years. Residents became angry when a company started sending heavy equipment to conduct mining activities.

Paniai Tribal Council head John Gobay urged authorities to enforce a Paniai regent's decree calling for temporary stoppage of mining along the Degeuwo River.

The decree was issued following a protest by tribal landowners on the negative impacts the mining was causing in Nomouwodide village. "Prostitution has thrived due to the presence of bars and we fear a rise in HIV/AIDS infection rates," he said.

There no certainty yet on the agreement between the landowners and the company on the sharing of profits from the traditional mine. "Everything must be discussed. Only when everything is clear can the mining operation resume," he added.