2,500 illegal miners in W. Sumatra uncontrolled
Saturday, June 17 2000 - 04:30 AM WIB
There are at least 2,500 coal illegal miners operating in West Sumatra, producing 25 truckloads of coals per day, according to the head of West Sumatra's mining office, Darwiyanto Sutrisno.
Darwiyanto said on Friday that his office had issued stern warning to a number of village-level cooperatives (KUDs), which hold mining rights for not buying anymore coals from illegal miners.
And the mining office has even barred KUD Muaro Sijunjung in exporting a total of 10,000 coals to Malaysia because they were allegedly procured from illegal miners.
He revealed only three KUDs had secured mining rights from local administrations. They are KUD Muaro and KUD Sisawah in Sawahlunto Sijunjung, and KUD Sari Mandi in 50 Kota district.
"We have issued warning letters to these KUD several times and so far they have never given us any report. And these KUD apparently have no capital. When we checked them in the field, they did nothing," he said.
He promised his office would coordinate with other related parties to investigate the planned export of 10,000 coals to Malaysia by KUD Muaro. (*)