Lawyers sue govt officials over illegal mining activities

A group of lawyers in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan have filed a legal suit against senior government officials for their "tolerance" action against the illegal coal miners in the province.

Kalimantan Pos reported on Tuesday that the lawyers sued the province's senior officials for allegedly helping the illegal coal miners. According to the lawyers, the local leaders' recent decision to issue a dispensation to the local illegal coal miners was a setback in the government's efforts to curb illegal mining activities in the province.

The officials who are sued by the lawyers include the province's governor, the chairman of the local legislative council, the police chief, the local army commander and head of the local court.

The local administration issued recently a ruling allowing illegal miners to sell tons coal, which have been confiscated by the local authority, after some tax payment. (*)