Critic of illegal mining linked to coal smuggling activity

A strong critic of illegal coal mining activity in South Kalimantan, Noor Ifansyah of the Yalam legal firm, has been linked to the recent smuggling of some 29,500 metric tons of coal, the local Banjarmasin Post said Friday.

The paper said that the coal had been smuggled to Thailand from the Kotabaru regency, which was made possible because of a legal opinion issued by Noor Ifansyah?s office.

The paper said that CV Gunung Tambora, the exporter of the illegal coal, had asked Noor Ifansyah to issue the legal opinion letter to allow the shipment of the coal. The paper said that an Indian-flag ship had been waiting for more than a month in the waters of Tanjung Pemancingan for the illegal coal. And after the legal opinion had been issued, CV Gunung Tambora managed to export the coal on August 2.

The Banjarmasin Post, however, did not explain why a legal opinion letter could make the export of the illegal coal possible.

Noor Ifansyah, who had earlier filed a legal suit against the local Kotabaru regency administration and legislative council for indirectly supporting illegal mining by accepting funds from the illegal miners, admitted that he had made the legal opinion. But he dismissed suggestion that he was involved in the coal smuggling or illegal coal mining activity.

?It is my duty as a lawyer to issue legal opinion when asked,? he said.

Illegal coal mining in South Kalimantan has been a rampant and a serious problem creating severe environmental destruction and discouraging investors.(*)