No illegal coal miners arrested

No illegal coal miners arrested

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): None of the coal miners recently found to be operating illegally in South Kalimantan have been arrested, but police have seized 15 excavators in Tanah Laut regency, a police officer has said.

South Kalimantan Police spokesman Comr. Taufik Soegiono denied that they were too slow in carrying out an investigation into the case.

South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham has suggested several times that police interrogate a well-connected businessman in Tanah Laut who owns and operates the 15 excavators, which have exploited coal deposits in the regency.

Illegal coal mining in various parts of South Kalimantan has resulted in deforestation, as unlicensed miners have not refilled holes or replanted trees in areas where the coal deposits have been depleted.

Taufik told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday that the police had launched an investigation into illegal coal mining cases in Tanah Laut and Kotabaru regencies, where many unlicensed coal miners operate illegally. (32)