Illegal mining activities mostly protected by security officials

The local government in South Kalimantan is facing difficulties to curb illegal coal mining activities in the province because most of their operations are backed by security officials, Banjarmasin Post reported on Saturday quoting a senior legislator.

"It is difficult for the local government to curb the rampant illegal coal mining operations because many security officials who are supposed to carry the law enforcement instead worked as the protector of the illegal mining operation," Urif Suharyanto, a representative of the province at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) told the daily following a meeting with the province's senior officials.

He said that there should be a breakthrough to stop such mining activities because their operations had caused a major destruction to the environment.

"The illegal coal mining companies have ignored all the mining regulations. Their operations have, for example, left many big holes in their mining sites as none of them carry out reclamation works as required," he added.

He said that had reported the involvement of the security officials in the illegal mining operations to the Speaker of MPR, Amien Rais and has also asked him to help settle the problem. (*)