Police in charge at Pongkor mine

BOGOR (JP): The military has handed over security responsibilities for the troubled Pongkor gold mine in Nanggung subdistrict to the police, Suryakencana Military Resort Command chief Col. Suprapto said.

"Our duties were only temporary, which was to guard the gold mine as state property. We handed the security over to the police because law enforcement is needed in the area," Suprapto said on Wednesday.

The handover was marked by the withdrawal of a platoon of military personnel from the mining area on Tuesday.

Poorly equipped illegal gold miners risk their lives in the Pongkor area in the search for gold.

Accidents have occurred frequently over the last few years and hundreds of people are believed to be buried in the mud.

The latest landslide struck the mine on Aug. 25 when heavy rain caused the walls of mud to cave in, killing at least 37 illegal miners, locals said. Rescue workers have recovered 26 bodies.

Suprapto dismissed allegations that the transfer of security responsibilities was connected to last week's accident.

"I'm only there to guard a vital state property. As for the illegal miners ... they're not my business," Suprapto said.

Local sources said the military in the area managed and rented particular shafts to the illegal miners. (21/edt)