South Kalimantan police arrest coal mining boss

The South Kalimantan police have arrested Parlin, a director of PT Satui Baratama, for his alleged role in the coal mining company?s operation in protected forest area in the province, Media Indonesia reported on Saturday.

The head of the investigation department of the South Kalimantan police, Mahfud, said that Parlin was arrested following the closure of a coal mining area owned by PT Satui Baratama and CV Aulia in Satui district in the Tanah Bambu regency.

He said that the company had opened a coal mine covering about 1,900 hectares in the dense conservation forest owned by PT Hutan Rindang Banua without a permit from the Ministry of Forestry.

A number of heavy equipment units including excavators and bulldozers had been also confiscated as evidences of the illegal mining operation. The South Kalimantan police have so far closed down at least 15 companies, including eight coal port operators and seven coal miners, for allegedly operating in protected forests without proper permits. (*)