Uphold Supremacy of Law: Illegal Mining Enforcement Expected to be Impartial

The Executive Board of the Islamic Students Association (PB HMI) is urging the Chief of National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and the Commander of the TNI, General Agus Subiyanto, to form an independent investigation team to thoroughly investigate alleged illegal coal mining and transportation practices in Lampung Province. This step is considered vital to maintaining the credibility of law enforcement institutions and protecting state finances and environmental sustainability.

The Deputy Secretary General of PB HMI, Rizky Nanda, stated that the handling of unlicensed mining cases must not only target workers on the ground but must also uncover the entire chain of illegal activities, including parties suspected of funding or providing protection.

“The state must not lose to natural resource mafias. Authorities should not only be brave enough to arrest field actors but also be willing to uncover those suspected of controlling, financing, or providing protection. The law must work without bias,” Rizky said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

Rizky emphasised that the organisation is encouraging authorities to immediately follow up with legal processes against private parties suspected of being actors behind illegal mining activities, which trigger ecological damage and the destruction of regional road infrastructure.

“PB HMI is not judging anyone. However, we remind everyone that in a state governed by law, no party should be immune. If, through a valid legal process, it is proven that officials or other parties are involved, they must face criminal prosecution, be subject to ethical sanctions, and be dismissed from their positions,” Rizky concluded.