Indonesia will intensify its crackdown on the illegal exploitation of natural resources, President Prabowo Subianto announced on Friday, following revelations that millions of hectares of palm plantations have been operating unlawfully.
Delivering his first state of the nation address ahead of the country’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, Prabowo disclosed that a recent survey identified 3.7 million hectares (14,300 square miles) of palm oil plantations in violation of the law. In total, 5 million hectares are under investigation.
The president said authorities, supported by the military, have already seized 3.1 million hectares of illegal plantations. “We have used the military to accompany the teams that took over the plantations because there often is resistance,” Prabowo told parliament.
The world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Indonesia has long grappled with environmental and legal challenges in the sector, where land disputes and deforestation have drawn international concern.
In addition to palm oil, Prabowo announced plans to target illegal mining, with reports indicating the existence of 1,063 unlawful operations across the mineral-rich archipelago. He did not provide details on the types of minerals being extracted.
The president also vowed to address commodity hoarding and exploitation, introducing tighter regulations on large-scale rice mills. Under the new policy, such mills will be required to obtain government permits to safeguard rice quality and affordability.
Prabowo, who assumed office in October after winning last year’s election, framed the measures as part of a broader push to restore order, protect the environment, and secure fair distribution of Indonesia’s natural resources.
Melissa Enoch
The post Indonesia To Intensify Crackdown On Illegal Plantations And Mines appeared first on Arise News.
