Aceh Forkopimda Issues Edict to Halt Illegal Gold Mining
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - The Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) has issued a joint decree to halt illegal gold mining activities, giving an ultimatum that all heavy equipment at mining sites must be removed by mid-August 2026 at the latest.
“A joint Forkopimda Aceh decree to stop illegal mining has been signed,” said Aceh Government Spokesperson Nurlis Effendi in Banda Aceh on Friday.
The joint decree, dated 23 July 2026, was signed by the Governor of Aceh, the Wali Nanggroe of Aceh, the Speaker of the Aceh Regional Parliament, the Aceh Regional Police Chief, the Commander of the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command, the Aceh Chief Prosecutor, the Aceh Regional Intelligence Chief, the Commander of the Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base, the Commander of the Sabang Naval Base, the Chief Judge of the Banda Aceh High Court, and the Chairman of the Aceh Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU).
According to Nurlis, the decree was issued due to the rampant unlicensed gold mining (PETI) activities and the use of hazardous and toxic substances, including mercury and cyanide, in several regencies and cities across Aceh. These activities have degraded environmental quality, threatening the survival of humans and other living beings.
Nurlis said the decree also reminds everyone engaged in unlicensed gold mining to cease their activities immediately, as they potentially face criminal prosecution under Law Number 3 of 2020, amending Law Number 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining.
The matter is also regulated under Law Number 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, Law Number 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, and Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry.
Furthermore, Nurlis continued, the second point of the decree states that anyone procuring, storing, distributing, trading or using mercury (Hg) and cyanide (CN) without a permit must also immediately cease such activities.
The decree also calls on Forkopimda forums in regencies and cities across Aceh to play an active role in monitoring, supervising and taking action against unlicensed gold mining activities within their respective jurisdictions.
On the final point, Nurlis added, Forkopimda Aceh issues an ultimatum to immediately halt PETI activities and vacate or remove all equipment related to such activities no later than 17 August 2026.
“Should any activities and mining equipment remain, persuasive, preventive and firm law enforcement measures will be taken against every perpetrator, financier, fence and any other party involved in PETI activities, in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations,” Nurlis said, reading the contents of the decree.
For information, according to data presented by Aceh Regional Secretary M Nasir, the illegal gold mining sites are spread across Aceh Besar, Pidie, Central Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Nagan Raya, Southwest Aceh and South Aceh regencies.