Sigi Regent Make Sure There Are No More Illegal Gold Mining Activities

JAKARTA - The Sigi Regency Government (Pemkab), Central Sulawesi, has ensured that there will be no more gold mining activities without permits (PETI) operating in the area.

Sigi Regent Moh Rizal Intjenae said that one of the reasons for intensively closing illegal gold mining sites is so that people in the area are prosperous and maintain their environment.

"We also remind that there are no indigenous peoples around the gold mine site who are rich so that in the future all parties must work together to protect, especially the Lake Lindu area which is included in the Lore Lindu National Park," Rizal said quoting Antara.

Rizal stated that the local government has a strong commitment to curbing all forms of gold mining activities without permission that threaten forest sustainability, wildlife asylum areas, and traditional forests which are important parts of the Sigi ecosystem.

"We invite all people to protect forest areas and wildlife asylum, most of which are also in the customary forest area and the conservation forest of Lore Lindu National Park," he said.

The local government has now established an integrated post in the Lore Lindu National Park area to prevent gold mining activities without a permit in the area.

"In the integrated post, it is guarded from the TNI, Polri, Polhut, Lore Lindu National Park, and Satpol PP which are divided into three points, namely in Kankuro Hamlet, Tomado Village, Puroo Village, and Sadaunti Hamlet," he said.

According to him, the integrated post will be built permanently, whose funds come from the revised regional revenue and expenditure budget (APBD) in 2025.

For the time being, he said, this integrated post uses emergency tents belonging to the social service and has started operating.

"Essentially, we local governments are committed to protecting the area," he said.

It is known that the Sigi Police have arrested six gold mining actors without a permit in Kankuro Hamlet, Tomado Village, Lindu District, each with the initials SR, SN, S, MI, AN, and YA.

Five perpetrators are currently in phase one with their files at the Sigi District Attorney's Office, while one other perpetrator is still under investigation.

The perpetrators with the initials SR, SN, S, and MI were arrested with evidence of three sacks of material.

Furthermore, the perpetrator with the initials AN was arrested with evidence of a red Avanza car and seven sacks of material, while YA was secured along with evidence in the form of a motorbike and four sacks of material.

All suspects are charged with a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion.