Numbers Swell, Dedi Mulyadi Halts Compensation for Residents Affected by Parungpanjang Mine Closure

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has responded to the protests by thousands of residents from Cigudeg, Rumpin, and Parungpanjang sub-districts affected by the closure of mining activities in the area.

The crowd previously staged a mass demonstration at Tegar Beriman Field in Cibinong, Bogor Regency, on Monday, 4 May 2026, demanding the reopening of official mines whose operations were shut down by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi.

According to Dedi, the thousands of residents held the protest because the compensation provided by the West Java Provincial Government did not match the initial commitment. Previously, the provincial government had promised compensation for the temporary mine closure for three months. However, in practice, only one month was given.

Not without reason, Dedi explained that the basis for providing mine closure compensation was limited to one month after the provincial government received an updated list of recipients that had ballooned from 3,000 to 18,000 people based on proposals from local village heads.

“If 18,000 are not given it, then it would be like this, like this, like this. So initially, I calculated that if 3,000 were given, say Rp3 million, that would be sufficient for six months. Compensation given every month. But they proposed 18,000, so the allocation for six months was only given once,” said Dedi in Bandung City on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

Therefore, because all residents were included in the recipient list, even though they were not mine workers, the West Java Provincial Government limited the compensation to just one payment.

“Because the number included everyone, all residents who work in the mine and those who don’t work in the mine were included and had to receive it. Yes, we fulfilled it,” he stated.

Rejects Reopening Mine Permits

Meanwhile, in response to demands to reopen the mines, Dedi emphasised that this issue is not merely about employment but also concerns the safety and quality of life for the wider community, particularly along the Parungpanjang route.

For him, the previous mining activities caused long-term impacts on residents, from extreme traffic jams to health disruptions.

“What is considered is the Parungpanjang route that is passed by our community as well, which must be protected so they are comfortable when going to school, comfortable when travelling to the office, comfortable when going to the hospital,” he explained.

He described the suffering of residents who had to return home late at night due to traffic jams, to health impacts that even resulted in deaths.