Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stressed that he will take firm action against illegal mining activity carried out in Halimun Salak National Park area, West Java.

"Everyone (involved) will be dealt with as firmly as possible. (As for sanction), please refer to the regulation. Everything which we can do (to address the issue), we will do it," Antoni made the statement here on Wednesday.

He has instructed the ministry's directorate of law enforcement to resolve the matter and impose sanctions on the perpetrators.

Earlier, images of rows of blue tents in the Halimun Salak National Park area went viral on social media after being spotted on Google Maps satellite imagery.

Illegal mining is also suspected to be taking place in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara.

The ministry's directorate general for law enforcement has taken firm measures, including strengthening monitoring, installing warning signs in Mount Prabu Nature Tourism Park, and coordinating with authorities to pursue legal action.

The directorate general also coordinates with relevant stakeholders to address violations which take place outside forest areas (Other Land Use Areas/APL), as well as to ensure that the proceedings are going smoothly.

"Mining without permits is strictly prohibited, especially if it gets into or impacts forest and conservation areas. We are enforcing administrative, civil, and criminal codes accordingly," the ministry's director general for law enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said on Monday, October 27.

The perpetrators must cease their operations, restore the environment, and take full responsibility for the damages they have caused, Nugroho stated.

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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Zhafira, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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