Photograph shows a scenic coastline in Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat. - Courtesy of indonesia.travel.id
JAKARTA: The House of Representatives has urged the government and law enforcement authorities to thoroughly investigate illegal gold mining activities near the Mandalika tourism hub in West Nusa Tenggara, which allegedly involve foreign nationals and reportedly yield around three kilogrammes of gold each day.
Lalu Hadrian Irfani, Deputy Chair of the House Commission X overseeing tourism and the creative economy, said that illegal mining activities not only violate the law but also damage the environment and jeopardise the economic future of local communities.
“The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and the Forestry Ministry must take swift action and conduct a joint investigation. Law enforcement should not stop at those working in the field but must also pursue the masterminds and people who fund these illegal operations, especially if foreign nationals are involved,” he said on Sunday (Oct 26) as quoted by Tempo.co.
The National Awakening Party (PKB) politician said the presence of illegal mining activities near Mandalika is deeply concerning and ironic, given that the area is one of Indonesia’s flagship tourism destinations where environmental preservation and security should take top priorities.
“The government is working to develop Mandalika into a world-class tourism hub. The presence of illegal gold mining in the surrounding area could tarnish the region’s image and discourage potential investors,” he said.
Last week, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that a massive illegal gold mine was operating in Sekotong District on Lombok, just an hour’s drive from the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ), home to Indonesia’s MotoGP international circuit.
“We received this information in August. The mine is reportedly managed and operated by Chinese nationals and could yield three kilogrammes of gold per day, translating to an estimated gross profit of Rp 1.08 trillion per year,” KPK investigator Dian Patria said on Friday, as quoted by Antara.
He added that the KPK had also received reports of an even larger illegal gold mine in Lantung District on nearby Sumbawa, about 240km from the Mandalika tourism hub, which is believed to be operated by the same group.
He noted that both mines were labelled as "community-operated," despite being run by foreign individuals.
Local police, he said, were hesitant to intervene, either due to fear of the mines’ backers or because some may have benefited financially from the illicit operations.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stressed that tackling illegal mining requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders, including the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, local authorities and Finance Ministry
“The KPK cannot tackle illegal mining problems alone, as it requires the involvement of many stakeholders. This is a shared responsibility that must be addressed collectively,” he said, as quoted by Tribunnews.com.
Responding to the report, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the ministry does not have the authority to handle illegal mines and urged law enforcement authorities to take action.
“The ESDM manages mines that have permits. If a mine operates without a permit, it should be handled by law enforcement,” he said, as quoted by Kompas.com.
The Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, Samsudin, said that the illegal mine in Sekotong District, allegedly operated by Chinese nationals, has been sealed by the KPK and the Forestry Ministry since August of last year.
“The police have already named suspects in the case,” he said on Sunday. Samsudin said the mine had previously been set on fire by local residents amid suspicions that it was illegally employing foreign nationals.
He said that the West Nusa Tenggara Energy and Mineral Resources Agency is currently planning to issue mining permits for sixteen blocks in Sekotong District, where many local residents depend on illegal gold mining for their livelihoods.
The mines will be managed through cooperatives as part of the regional administration’s efforts to regulate mining activities in accordance with the law. The initiative is also aimed at providing communities that have long relied on informal mining with legal and sustainable livelihood alternatives. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
