Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – Environmental activists have found indications that police and military personnel have been involved in illegal gold mining in the Lore Lindu National Park (TNLL) in the Poso and Sigi regencies.
The chairman of the Community Innovation Association (Imunitas), Shadiq, said that based on an investigation conducted by his organization, the illegal miners had allegedly received back-up from military and police officers for their operations.
"According to our investigation, the officers also participate in the mining activities. They also oversee the distribution of the minerals to Palu for further processing," he said recently.
Separately, Central Sulawesi Police spokesperson, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto, said that his office had also received reports about the involvement of police officers in the activities. However, he said, the police still needed to investigate the issue more to find solid proof. "Tough action will surely be taken should our members be involved," Hari said.
Some 1,000 people are currently illegally mining in a 4-hectare area around Dongi-Dongi village in the Sedoa subdistrict and are blamed for causing environmental damage to the national park.
Karsa Institute executive director Rahmat Saleh said that apart from police officers, two businessmen are also alleged to be involved as they were believed to have provided the trommels used to process the minerals. "In addition to the miners, these people must also be caught in order to totally curtail the illegal mining in the park," Rahmat said.
He said the illegal mining had damaged land located in the rehabilitation areas, creating unstable ground that could trigger floods and landslides during heavy rain. "The illegal mining also pollutes the Sopu River with toxic mercury and cyanide," said the SIKAP Institute's executive director, Muhammad Rifai Lahamu.
The mining, he said, violated a number of laws, including a 2013 law on the prevention and eradication of forest damage, a 1990 law on the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, a 2009 law on mineral and coal mining, a 1997 law on environment management and a 1999 law on forestry. "No law justifies the mining activities in the national park," Rifai said.
Meanwhile, TNLL office head Sudaryatna said that they would intensify patrols by working together with police and military officers to curb the illegal mining. "The joint operation to stop the activities will be conducted in the near future. Miners have to leave the area," he said.
The TNLL officially covers an area of 217,991.18 hectares. It is home to flora and fauna endemic to Sulawesi and offers interesting natural phenomena as a result of its being located on the Wallace Line, which is the transition line between the Asian and Australasian landmasses.
Located to the south of Donggala regency and to the west of Poso regency, the park is a water-catchment area for the three big rivers in the province, namely the Lariang, Gumbasa and Palu rivers.
The park is a habitat for Sulawesi's biggest native mammals including anoa, hog deer, deer, ghost monkeys, kakaktonkea monkeys, kuskus marsupials and civets. At least five different species of squirrels and 31 of 38 species of rats can also be found there.