Mahfud MD Calls Officials "Backing" Illegal Mining, Army Chief Of Staff General Maruli: Please Report, I Respond

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak in Mekarjaya Village, Ciemas, Sukabumi, West Java, on Thursday 18 January. (Ist)

JAKARTA - Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak responded to the statement of vice presidential candidate number 3 Mahfud MD who said that there were officers and officials who supported (backing) illegal mining. "The apparatus could also be civil apparatus, yes, that's not complete," said Maruli during a press conference in Headquarters, Central Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA Monday, January 22. Maruli said Mahfud's statement regarding the apparatus was incomplete. The reason, according to him, is that the term aparat' can refer to many things, so he questions which one is Mahfud. "So, I said so, which one, what is the apparatus?," he said.," said Maruli, TNI AD has applied the legal principle to every soldier. He believes that his party does not dare to do anything that violates the law, including supporting illegal mining. So, we are also difficult at present times, frankly, if for example we are so, enter our videos are afraid now. So, we are no longer brave. We have started. Indeed, sometimes the law will obey after there is coercion, "he said. If we play with the mine so much as safeguarding, photographed, I believe the response is fast, continued the Army Chief of Staff.' In addition, Maruli admitted that his party did not know anything about the legality of mining authorities. However, he invited all parties to report if indeed an indication of soldiers who did so. Because those who have the authority is actually from the ministry that provides legally, legally. We do not know in fact. But if that there is an indication direction to go there, please report it, ", please report it, said Maruli. Furthermore, soldiers who proved to support illegal mining will be sanctioned, as in previous cases. I think there is a time like this there were about how many years ago soldiers participated in this mining, the members are also many, so that according to what we get information now, it is very drastically declining for those who take care of this,' he said.

Previously, Mahfud MD, during the fourth debate held by the Indonesian KPU at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Sunday night, said that revoking mining business permits (IUP) was not easy to do because there were many mafias. "Just mention the IUP, now that's the problem. Removing the IUP is a lot of mafia, there are many mafias. I have sent a team to the field, rejected, it has been decided by the Supreme Court. That's right. Even the KPK last week said that mining in Indonesia was a lot illegal and it was backed up by officials and officials. That's the problem, "said Mahfud.