The Family Hope Program Task Force Will Immediately Crack Down on Illegal Mining, ICW Warns of Backing

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - After regulating illegal palm oil plantations, the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force or Satgas PKH will regulate illegal mining suspected to cover an area of 4.2 million hectares starting in September 2025. On the other hand, the Satgas PKH has been reminded to also take action against officials who are suspected of having been backing illegal mining operations.

The Attorney General's Office's Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah, who is also the Chair of the PKH Task Force, stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (28/8/2025) that the PKH Task Force, consisting of 12 ministries/agencies, will commence operations to regulate forest areas used for illegal mining activities on September 1, 2025.

This step is a follow-up to the order from President Prabowo Subianto as conveyed in the state address on August 15. At that time, Prabowo mentioned that he received reports of 1,063 illegal mines that could potentially harm the state by at least Rp 300 trillion. He stated that he would take action against such practices.

"After this, we will regulate the mines that violate the rules. I have been informed by the authorities that there are 1,063 illegal mines," said President Prabowo in his speech.

During the press conference of the PKH Task Force, Febrie was accompanied by, among others, the Chief of General Staff of the TNI as the Deputy Chairperson I of the PKH Task Force, Lieutenant General Richard Taruli H Tampubolon, and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police as the Deputy Chairperson II of the PKH Task Force, Commissioner General Syahardiantono.

The criminal process is the last resort that we undertake. And if asked what the legal provisions will be in the criminal proceedings, which articles or laws will apply, we will certainly examine the legal position accordingly.

"The enforcement of law based on Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 is expected to be accepted and welcomed positively by all actors in the palm oil plantation and mining sectors affected by the operations," said Febrie.

According to Febrie, the enforcement was carried out to ensure the implementation of laws and regulations as well as to prevent environmental damage due to illegal exploitation practices. The PKH Task Force has identified 4,265,376.32 hectares of forest areas used for mining activities without a Forest Area Use Permit (IPPKH). This illegal mining is considered to have resulted in the loss of state wealth.

Based on that data, the PKH Task Force will carry out enforcement starting on September 1, 2025. The land successfully controlled by the PKH Task Force will be temporarily managed by the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises before being transferred to the relevant agencies.

Febrie assured that the operation to enforce regulations in illegal mining areas within forest regions is not solely focused on criminal aspects, but rather on the state's reclamation of forest areas. The perpetrators are required to return all profits obtained unlawfully to the state.

However, if there are parties who are uncooperative or try to hinder the implementation of the policy, the PKH Task Force will take them to the realm of criminal law enforcement, either based on the provisions of administrative law (penal law), the Corruption Crime Law, or the Money Laundering Crime Law.

"The criminal process is the last resort that we undertake. And if asked what the legal provisions or laws applicable to the criminal process will be, we will certainly examine the legal position," said Febrie.

As of now, the total area of forest land reclaimed by the PKH Task Force is 3,314,022.75 hectares. Of this amount, 833,413.46 hectares have been handed over to PT Agrinas, and 81,793.00 hectares have been restored to its function as a conservation area located in Tesso Nilo National Park.

Meanwhile, another 2,398,816.29 hectares are still in the administrative process and will soon be handed over to the relevant ministry.

Separately, a researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Yassar Aulia, opined that another aspect that needs to be understood regarding the issue of illegal mining is the connection that is inextricably linked to the structures or networks that enable such illegal practices to occur. According to Yassar, illegal mining occurs due to the presence of parties that grant permits illegally.

"The party that bribes, for example, to obtain permits and then to operate in an environment that is actually illegal, requires backing. And often in the field, this is translated as individuals from the authorities, as well as other parties, such as civilians or what we often refer to as thugs," said Yassar.

According to Yassar, in order to regulate illegal mining, it is also necessary to map the structure of parties suspected of granting permits or providing protection to illegal mines. Once this network is mapped, they must also be subjected to legal proceedings.

In this regard, Yassar continued, the enforcement of illegal mining should not only stop at administrative measures. The PKH Task Force is also expected to design policies so that similar patterns do not recur in the future, including the pattern of bribery to obtain permits illegally.

"Therefore, it is hoped that the efforts will not only stop at enforcement but will also lead to legal reforms in the future, improving governance and oversight, to prevent recurrence. Because if it does not happen that way, then this is merely digging a hole and covering it up," said Yassar.