Prabowo Claims There Are Businessmen Who Spit on the Nation and Heroes' Sacrifices

President Prabowo Subianto has alluded to a businessman engaging in illegal mining activities without permits in Indonesia over the past eight years. He made these remarks during an event handing over Rp11.1 billion from the collection of administrative forest fines by the Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH) at the Attorney General’s Office on Friday (10/4). Prabowo stated that the businessman continued mining operations even after the government revoked the permits. “The permit has already been revoked by the Republic of Indonesia Government, for eight years this businessman has been doing it continuously, he carried out mining without a permit,” he said. He assessed that what the businessman did was like laughing at the government. The business actor, he said, was also deemed to not respect the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Therefore, Prabowo claimed to have instructed Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin to take firm action against the business actor. “He is laughing at the Republic of Indonesia. He is spitting on the sacrifices of those who fell for Indonesia’s independence. He does not respect the NKRI,” he explained. “Therefore, I have ordered the Attorney General to enforce the law. He does not want to cooperate, prosecute him criminally. We are not hesitant and we are not afraid,” he added. On that occasion, he also reaffirmed his support for the efforts of the Satgas PKH to recover state finances. Prabowo himself admitted to receiving a lot of information about threats and intimidation faced by the Satgas PKH while working. Therefore, he assured that he stands behind the Satgas PKH. Prabowo also claimed he would use all available authority to enforce the law without discrimination. “If anyone obstructs the Satgas PKH, he is obstructing the work of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and believe me, I will use all the authority and power given,” he explained. A few times ago, the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) had named tycoon Samin Tan in a corruption case regarding the management of illegal mining in the Central Kalimantan area during the 2016-2025 period. Samin Tan, as the beneficial owner or beneficiary of PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup (PT AKT), is alleged to have continued mining and illegal coal sales activities from 2017-2025 unlawfully. In fact, PT AKT’s mining activities had been revoked through a Termination Letter in the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree Number 3714 K/30/MEM/2017. However, this illegal mining activity continued because Samin Tan is alleged to have colluded with state officials.