Fitri. R, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara – Students scuffled with the police on Friday as they rallied in support of villagers fighting a proposed gold mine in Bima district on Sumbawa Island.

The students gathered in front of the governor's office in Mataram, the provincial capital on Lombok, in support of the residents of Lambu village, who are demanding that the government revoke a concession for a gold mine in the area.

Villagers have blocked roads and the main harbor of Sape for the past five days to protest the proposed mine, which they say would threaten the forest and water resources. Sumber Mineral Nusantara, a mining firm, has been granted an exploration permit for the area.

The protesters on Friday also demanded the release of a student who was arrested during the last protest against the mine.

West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Majdi refused to meet with the protesters, causing temperatures to rise and leading to some pushing and shoving between the students and the police.

However, there was no major violence and the student went home without further incident. But they promised that they would be back unless plans for the mine were halted. They also demanded that the authorities refrain from using violence to clear the villagers out of Sape harbor.

Usman Manto, a coordinator of the student protesters, said the authorities needed to do more than make promises. He said real action was needed to deal with this problem.

"Why don't the police look at why the people are taking to the streets, because of the mine?" he said. "We need a governor who can provide a guarantee that our demands will be met. We are tired of just being given more promises from the governor without any action."

The residents of Lambu, he said, had done everything in their power to force the authorities to review the permit they gave to the miner for land in Parado subdistrict, near the village.

After the head of Bima district, Ferry Zulkarnain, failed to act on their grievances, Usman said the villagers resorted to occupying Sape to draw greater attention to their cause.

The villagers, aided by the students, have said that they intend to continue their occupation of the port until the permit for the mine has been revoked.

Sape is a main gateway to Sumbawa from the neighboring island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. Governor Zainul has repeatedly called for the villagers to leave the port, saying that their "action to block the port has already caused losses and inconveniences for many parties."

He said the port was used by many people to return home to celebrate Christmas in their villages. East Nusa Tenggara is predominantly a Christian region.