Police in charge at Pongkor mine

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)