No Compromise for Illegal Mining

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

Sand is mined on Wednesday (8/1/2020) at a former illegal tin mine near Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang municipality, Bangka Belitung Islands province. Bangka Belitung has seen a growing number of open pits for mining sand in the last five years, reaching up to 12,000 pits.

Illegal mining often contributes to disasters. We should give a thumbs-up to all parties that dare to crack down on the illicit activity.

Such strict measures have been demonstrated by the Maluku Police, which have launched a crackdown to close down the illegal cinnabar mine at Mount Tembaga in Huamual district, West Seram regency, Maluku. Indonesia’s biggest cinnabar mine was closed in 2017 at the instruction of President Joko Widodo. However, the mine is operating again and supplying mercury across the country (Kompas, Saturday, 11/1/2020).

Illegal mining involves local people or companies that mine or quarry without a permit and without adhering to good and proper mining principles. Some of these illegal mines operate on land that is not yet occupied by their legal permit holders, while others operate on land that belong to companies.

The operations at illegal mines usually neglect the proper standards, which result in severe environmental damage and even put the lives of the miners in danger. A number of illegal mines are even suspected of being the cause of major disasters. The recent case of an illegal gold mine on Mount Halimun, for example, was suspected of causing a landslide in Bogor regency, West Java.

There is large number of illegal mines. While he was deputy chair of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Laode M. Syarif said that 60 percent of 10,000 mining permits were illegal. However, minimal enforcement efforts against illegal mines had been made.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

A makeshift barge is used in illegal tin mining activities off the coast of Sampur Beach on Friday (10/1/2020) in Bukit Intan district, Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung. The illegal activity has diminished the local fish population, affecting the livelihood of fishermen.

The condition certainly does not mean we are anti-mining. Indonesia, which has a wealth of minerals, needs to manage its mining better so the sector can absorb labor and bring in sustainable foreign exchange, and without causing damage and misery. Strict management and supervision that follow the law must be applied to all mining that dredges or dismantles the surface soil.

Paragraph (4) of the same article emphasizes that the national economy is based on the principles of sustainability and environmental orientation.

In the 1945 Constitution, Chapter XIV on National Economy and Social Welfare, Article 33, Paragraph (3), states: "The soil and water and the natural resources contained therein are controlled by the state and used for the greatest prosperity of the people.” Paragraph (4) of the same article emphasizes that the national economy is based on the principles of sustainability and environmental orientation.

The law must be enforced. All those involved in illegal mining must be severely punished. Law No. 4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining stipulates a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp 10 billion.

In this era of global warming, the Earth has become even more valuable. The archipelago must be protected so it can be passed down to future generations.