Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Coalition of Lecturers from Mulawarman University (Unmul) has rejected the plan to grant mining concession permits to universities. A coalition member, Herdiansyah Hamzah, stated that the plan humiliates the dignity of universities as entities of civilization. This is because universities are not business entities.
"Especially the mining business that is destructive and deadly," said Herdiansyah in an official statement on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The constitutional law lecturer said the mining concession business plan would force universities to abandon their role as gateways to civilization. Campuses would no longer be seen as places for nurturing human potential but to produce a businessman with a mentality that destroys nature and the environment. "In the end, universities would just be extending the ranks of environmental destroyers," said this member of KIKA.
According to Herdiansyah, this plan would have a detrimental impact on the environment and the living spaces of local communities. It would lead to the displacement of Indigenous people from their land, land use changes, floods, cracked buildings, damaged roads, respiratory infections due to dust, and even loss of lives in abandoned mining pits, which would become everyday sights.
The coalition is also suspicious of the plan to grant mining concession permits to universities. They suspect this plan is a form of power bribery aimed at subjugating universities.
"This is a way to control universities to align them with the desires of those in power. This situation is quite dangerous for the independence of universities," he said.
The coalition has called on the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to stop the discussions on the amendments to the Mining Bill (RUU Minerba), which would open the door for granting mining concession permits to universities. This regulation is also being used as a justification to strengthen mining permits for religious organizations.
On January 20, the DPR's Legislation Body (Baleg) approved the Mining Bill draft as a DPR initiative. In the final draft, the revision of the Mining Law includes Article 51A, which states that mining business permit areas (WIUP) for metal minerals or coal can be granted to universities on a priority basis.
The Deputy Chairman of the DPR Legislation Body, Martin Manurung, claimed that the revision of the Mining Bill (UU Minerba) is intended for the benefit of society. The intended benefit is for Indonesia's natural resources to truly benefit the wider community, not just a select group of tycoons. "All groups, including religious organizations and universities," said Martin in a written statement obtained by Tempo on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
The Indonesian Private Higher Education Association (APTISI) insists on managing mines. The Chairman of APTISI, Budi Djatmiko, stated that the mining business is similar to other businesses that universities have already engaged in, such as the hospitality and healthcare sectors. He mentioned that there are procedures and requirements that universities must meet. "When universities open hotels, is the only requirement certification of lecturers? No. The requirement is to have land, among other things," said Budi during a meeting with the DPR Legislation Body on Monday, February 3, 2025.