JAYAPURA - The Jayapura City Government has asked the public to stop illegal gold mining activities because in addition to damaging the environment, it also has the potential to cause casualties.
The Mayor of Jayapura Abisai Rollo said that the landslide at the traditional Batu Putih mine site, South Jayapura District, was a serious warning of the dangers of illegal gold panning activities.
"We hope that the community will have the awareness not to carry out illegal mining activities to avoid human casualties as happened in Batu Putih," said Rollo, Antara, Wednesday, February 18.
According to him, the Jayapura City Government often gives advice to stop traditional gold panning activities in the area. However, until now illegal mining activities are still being carried out in a number of points.
"We have gone directly to several illegal mining locations, including in the Polimak area, South Jayapura District, to give warnings. But the activity is still going on," he said.
Rollo explained that traditional gold panning activities are very prone to causing disasters. If there is a landslide, the impact will not only be felt by miners, but also by the people who live around the location.
He emphasized that after the evacuation and funeral process for the victims of the landslide in Batu Putih was completed, the government together with related authorities would close the area so that it would no longer be used for panning activities.
"This location will be equipped with police lines so that there will be no more mining activities. This incident must be a lesson for all," he said.
Rollo added that his party had coordinated with the central government to handle illegal mining activities in Jayapura City. In the near future, the relevant ministries will send a team to help stop all illegal gold panning activities.
In addition, he also invited the owners of customary rights and customary figures, including ondoafi, to jointly protect the territory of Jayapura City from high-risk illegal logging activities.
"Let's take care of this city together. Don't let this dangerous activity continue to happen and take more victims," he said.
Previously, the joint SAR team evacuated the body of Rafles Fonataba Waromi (22), an illegal gold miner who was buried in a landslide at the Batu Putih illegal mining site on Tuesday night.
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