LAST Saturday, Buyat village head Makmun Paputungan received news that a meeting with PT Newmont representatives was taking place at the Siera Hotel in Ratatotok, North Sulawesi. Makmun rushed out of his house and immediately headed to the hotel. Upon arriving, Paputungan was relievedthe meeting had not yet ended.

Makmun was surprised to see several of his colleagues at the meeting. Why had they not told him about the meeting earlier? The meeting