Helmud Hontong

On 29 January 2021, the company was granted a 33-year-long permit for production in the region. Jabes Gaghana, however, said the mine would only cover around 60 hectares (0.23 sq mi) of land. According to the Save Sangihe Islands Movement, which Indonesians organized to oppose the mining permit, Helmud delivered a letter to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources arguing the mine was against Law Number 1 of 2014 regarding mining permits in small islands and coastal regions. Jabes stated he had never seen the letter himself while confirming he was opposed to the mining permit.

In an interview on 21 April 2021, Helmud stated he strongly rejected any mining activity in the region for any reason.

According to an official statement from Lion Air, Helmud and his adjutant boarded transit flight JT-740 from Denpasar to Makassar en route to Manado at 15:08 Central Indonesian Time on 9 June 2021. Previously, he attended an annual meeting between all regents and vice-regents in Indonesia. He was tested negative for COVID-19 and boarded the plane. At 15:40, not long after the take-off, the flight crew were told Helmud needed emergency medical help. Helmud suddenly coughed and bled from both his mouth and nose; having earlier asked for a drink of water after feeling discomfort in his neck, The crew obtained assistance from a licensed doctor on the flight. Helmud was given a portable oxygen tube while the crew loosened his clothes and cleaned his face, which had blood on it. The pilot was instructed to land at the nearest airport, which was the original destination Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. At 16:17, the plane landed and he was quickly evacuated to a waiting medical team, who declared him dead.

On 12 June 2021, North Sulawesi Regional Police and the Sangihe Islands Regency Resort Police formed a special team to investigate Helmud's death. Police chief of Sangihe Islands Regency said according to his early investigation, Helmud had a history of diabetes and asthma but stated further investigation was needed. The National Commission on Human Rights urged the police to investigate his death to clear up speculation. Greenpeace declared support for Helmud's initiative to reject the mine and offered condolences.

On 13 June 2021, police announced an autopsy team would arrive at Tahuna and would start work the next day. The following day, police announced the autopsy found Helmud had died from disease complications but refused to comment any further, saying the forensic team would explain in a press conference. Later, according to Kompas.tv and Liputan6, the forensic team said they found no trace of toxic substances in Helmud's body.

In 2017, Helmud was elected vice-regent of the Sangihe Islands Regency.

Helmud started to take an interest in politics when he was recruited as a hairdresser for the wife of a member of the provincial parliament in Manado, who encouraged him to run in the legislative election. In 2009, he was elected as a representative in the Sangihe Islands' parliament and re-elected in 2014 for a second term, both times for the Golkar Party. When his second term ended, Helmud decided to run as a vice-regent in 2017.

Helmud was strongly opposed to a proposed gold mine in the islands that was proposed by PT Tambang Mas Sangihe. According to government mapping of the potential mineral resource, the mine would cover 42,000 hectares (160 sq mi) of the Sangihe Islands, more than half of their area. An exploration permit had been granted in 1987 using karya (transl. creation) contract, which was a product of Suharto's New Order.

Helmud Hontong (9 November 1962 – 9 June 2021) was an Indonesian politician and the vice-regent of the Sangihe Islands Regency from 2017 until his sudden death on 9 June 2021 during a flight from Denpasar to Makassar. He had previously served two terms as representative in the regency's parliament from 2009 to 2017. He opposed a plan to develop a gold mine in the regency and issued a formal letter to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to lift the license of the mining company on 21 April 2021.

Helmud Hontong was born on the island of Mahengetang in the Sangihe Islands on 9 November 1962. He spent most of his childhood and education in Tahuna. He finished senior high school in 1982 and continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Economics in Manado in 2004. Helmud worked as a barber; he opened a small barbershop that he later expanded to become his primary business.