Dedi Mulyadi Highlights the Complexities of Mining in West Java

GOVERNOR of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, has highlighted the complexities of mining issues in West Java. Not only illegal mining, but according to him even legal mines have not escaped various problems that disadvantage communities and lead to environmental damage. He explained that legal mining in West Java does not escape problems, ranging from manipulative recording practices to the loss of green land that is dangerous for long-term life. “Let alone the illegal, the legal ones must be corrected,” Dedi said in Bandung on Thursday (5/3). He cited examples where legal mining companies’ practices do not conform to licensing. “My permit is here, but the mining is there,” he said. He even stressed that many mining operators’ land exploitation exceeds what is permitted. “The mine permits cover 10 hectares, but on the ground they mine 100 hectares,” he lamented. Worse still, he added, tax payments remitted to the state treasury do not reflect reality because the figures are manipulated in coordination with certain bureaucrats. “Mining tax payments are usually coordinated with the Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda). They are not calculated based on the product (output), but are inflated according to an agreed figure. This is what happens,” he said. In fact, according to him, mining activity impacts environmental quality. “These mines have an effect on environmental degradation. We will lose trees, natural resources, mountains. We may even lose the beauty of nature,” he said. Ultimately, he continued, all these environmental damages will burden the state finances for rehabilitation. “This degradation must be recovered by the state treasury,” he said. Not only that, the issue is very tangible for residents around mining areas. The economic benefits of mining are not felt by locals; they bear the losses instead. “Residents around the mines have low education, low economy, high poverty. Oddly, the infrastructure around the mining area is poor as well,” he said. Therefore, Dedi confirmed that he would not play games with mining activity in his region. “Many other sectors are harmed. This must be corrected. I am not anti-mining if the mining is not anti-justice,” he said. He will channel mining taxes to be used entirely for local residents, from infrastructure development to improving health and education. “Taxes from mining must return to the region. For road infrastructure, for the education of its people, and for public health to be good,” he said. So far, Dedi notes that only a handful of people have enjoyed the mining profits. “I do not want those who enjoy mining to be only community figures and thugs who skim money from the transports. The miners themselves only receive Rp40 thousand, the thugs Rp300 thousand,” he said.