Kotabaru Regent rejects intervention from Governor over illegal mining issue

Kotabaru Regent Sjahrani Mataja rejected the instruction of South Kalimantan Governor Sjahril Darham to curb the rampant illegal mining activity in the regency, the local Banjarmasin Post daily reported on Thursday.

Sjahrani said that the Governor instruction was a form of intervention into the Kotabaru administration. He said that according to the new autonomy law, the regency has full authority in managing its social and economic affairs except those which also interrelated with other regencies in the province.

"The Kotabaru administration has its won policy (in handling illegal mining) and doesn't want to see any form of intervention from the province," Sjahrani said.

The Governor issued an instruction on February 10 for the Kotabaru administration to take swift action to curb the rampant illegal mining activity in the area. The Governor also instructed that the coal produced by the illegal miners be confiscated and put them on auction with the proceeds to be used for the interest of the government.

The Governor said that according to reports from the media, illegal mining activity has been rampant in Kotabaru regency.

Illegal mining activity is one of the most serious and difficult problem faced by mining investors in the country.(*)