Many Mining Mafias Arrested By Thugs To Officials, Police Must Eradicate

Illustrations of former gold-taking excavations in86ardo Satu Village, Sigi Biromaru District, Sigi Regency. (ANTARA/HO-)

JAKARTA - The National Police are asked to be firm in eradicating the mining mafia which seems untouched. Moreover, Koprs Bhayangkara has the authority to take action.

The statement was made by the Chairman of the Solidarity of the Indonesian Law Enforcement Action (SAKSI), Santoso AS. According to him, the police must be at the forefront of eradicating the mafia in Indonesia.

"The existence of this mafia must be seen not only in a legal perspective. These mafias are damaging the investment climate and the economy in Indonesia. Police as law enforcement officers must be able to be at the forefront of eradicating the mafia," Santoso told reporters, Thursday, June 1.

The statement was also in response to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) of the Republic of Indonesia, Mahfud MD, who had mentioned that eradicating the mining mafia was the most challenging thing. Because, there are many thugs and officials behind it.

Santoto said, for example, the existence of a mining mafia, such as a case of CPO theft in the waters of East Kalimantan (Kaltim). Their actions are considered to damage the image of the Nusantara State Capital (IKN) area.

Seperti kita tahu, kemarin Ditpolairud Polda Kaltim berhasil menangkap Haji Laba dalam kasus pencurian 151 ton CPO di Kapal Elang Jawa I. Ini bukan pencurian biasa. Pihak kepolisian harus menjalani kasus ini dengan membongkarkan sindikat mafia CPO ini," ucap Santoso.

"How is it possible to attract investment into IKN, while the mafia are roaming around it. Investors need security and legal certainty," he continued.

The handling of this case will be in the spotlight in the eyes of the business world, including foreign investors. If the police succeed in uncovering the mafia syndicate, it will be an added value for investment trust in IKN.

The police must be at the forefront of eradicating the mafia. We can see that later with how the police handle cases like the CPO mafia. Whether it will only be seen as an ordinary case that then evaporates or manages to uncover the syndicate in it," said Santoso.

For information, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that eradicating the mining mafia was the most challenging thing. Because, many parties protect, from thugs to officials.

"Mining mafia because sometimes it mixes between people wanting to do good, people who want to try illegally, mixed with thugs, mix with back up with officials," said Mahfud.