Coordination Meeting In Papua, Investment Minister Bahlil Will Close Illegal Gold Mines In Manokwari And Arfak Mountains

Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Investment Minister and the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia agreed to close the illegal gold mines operating in the Manokwari Regency and Arfak Mountains Regency (Pegaf), West Papua. The closure of the illegal gold mining location will be carried out as soon as possible.

This was stated by Bahlil after holding a limited coordination meeting of the Investment Task Force with the Acting Governor of West Papua, West Papua Police Chief, Commander of the XVIII Kasuari Regional Military Command, the Regent of Manokwari, and the Regional Secretary of the Arfak Mountains Regency.

"Information that we received from the community as well as the Regents of Manokwari and Pegaf, illegal mining occurred in their area. We leave it to the Governor to immediately take comprehensive steps considering that the mine does not have a permit and is in a conservation forest area," said Bahlil.

The closure of the illegal gold mining location was directly led by the Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw. "We agreed to close the location of the illegal gold mine with firm and measured actions. As for the concrete steps, we leave it to the Governor," he explained.

Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw stated that he would soon form a task force for handling gold mines in the Manokwari area and the Arfak Mountains.

"We will discuss quickly, prepare a concept to prepare the steps that must be taken to solve the problem, a Task Force will be formed and commanded by two regents," said Waterpauw.

The retired National Police Commissioner-General of Police hopes that the task force to be formed will be able to initiate a meeting with the owners of customary rights at the mining site.

In addition, it also takes firm action against heavy equipment activities at mining sites.

"Strict action is mainly related to the entry of heavy equipment in people's mining areas because it is prohibited," he said.

Waterpauw appealed to the owners of customary rights over the land at the mine site to carefully consider giving the area to be used as a location for illegal mining, considering that the environmental impact caused will be very dangerous for residents living in the area.

Illegal mining activities that are still operating actively are currently in the Wasirawi Region, Manokwari Regency and Minyambouw, Arfak Mountains Regency.