Joint Declaration of the Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum Calls for the Termination of Illegal Gold Mining (PETI)

Information Content:

In connection with the rise in illegal gold mining activities (PETI) and the use of hazardous and toxic materials including mercury or cyanide in several districts/cities in the Aceh region, which has resulted in a decline in environmental quality, thus threatening the survival of humans and other living creatures.

We hereby remind and urge all members of society to implement and comply with the following provisions:

1. Everyone who carries out gold mining activities without a permit must immediately stop mining activities.

Criminal Actions:

A. Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining

Article 158 “Any person who carries out mining without a permit shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 5 (five) years and a maximum fine of IDR 100,000,000,000.00 (one hundred billion rupiah)”.

Article 161 “Any person who collects, utilizes, processes, and/or refines, develops and/or utilizes, transports, sells minerals and/or coal that do not originate from the permit holder, shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 5 (five) years and a maximum fine of IDR 100,000,000,000.00 (one hundred billion rupiah)”.

B. Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management

Article 98 “Any person who intentionally commits an act that results in exceeding the ambient air quality standards, water quality standards, seawater quality standards, or environmental damage criteria, shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of 3 (three) years and a maximum of 10 (ten) years and a fine of at least Rp. 3,000,000,000.00 (three billion rupiah) and a maximum of Rp. 10,000,000,000.00 (ten billion rupiah)”.

Article 109 “Any person who carries out a business and/or activity without having an environmental permit shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of 1 (one) year and a maximum of 3 (three) years and a fine of at least Rp. 1,000,000,000.00 (one billion) and a maximum of Rp. 3,000,000,000.00 (three billion rupiah).”

C. Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction

Article 89 “Any individual who intentionally carries out mining activities and brings heavy equipment and/or other equipment that is commonly or reasonably suspected of being used to carry out mining activities and/or transport mining products in forest areas without the Minister’s permission, shall be punished with a minimum prison sentence of 3 (three) years and a maximum of 15 (fifteen) years and a fine. At least Rp. 1,500,000,000.00 (One Billion Five Hundred Million Rupiah) and at most Rp. 10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Rupiah).

Article 90 “Any Individual Who Intentionally Transports and/or Receives Deposits of Mining Results Originating from Mining Activities in Forest Areas Without a Permit Shall Be Punished with a Prison Term of at Least 3 (Three) Years and a Maximum of 10 (Ten) Years and a Fine of at Least Rp. 1,500,000,000.00 (One Billion Five Hundred Million Rupiah) and a Maximum of Rp. 5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Rupiah)”.

D. Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry Article 78 “Any person who intentionally carries out general investigation activities or exploration or exploitation of mining materials in forest areas without the Minister’s permission, shall be subject to a maximum prison sentence of 10 (ten) years and a maximum fine of IDR 5,000,000,000.00 (five billion rupiah).

2. Any person who carries out procurement, storage, distribution/sale and use of mercury (Hg) and cyanide (Cn) without a permit must immediately stop their activities.

3. The Regency/City Forkopimda must play an active role in monitoring, supervising and taking action against illegal gold mining activities in their respective areas.

4. Immediately stop the box and empty/remove the equipment related to the activity in question no later than 17 August 2026, and if there are still activities and mining equipment, persuasive, preventive and strict law enforcement action will be taken against every actor, financier, funder or other party involved in the box activity in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations.

Thus, this joint information is issued to be implemented with full responsibility.

Banda Aceh, July 23, 2026
9 Shafar 1448

His Majesty the Wali Nanggroe, Malik Mahmud Al-Haythar
Governor of Aceh, Muzakir Manaf
Chairman of the Aceh DPR, Zulfadhli, A.Md
Commander of the Iskandar Muda Military Command, Major General TNI Joko Hadi Susilo
Aceh Police Chief, Inspector General Ruddi Setiawan
Head of the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office, Yudi Triadi, S.H., M.H
Aceh Intelligence Agency Chief, Brigadier General Andrie Pitriko Mulia
Commander of the Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base, Colonel (Pnb) Suryo Anggoro, M.Tr.(Han)
Commander of the Sabang Indonesian Naval Base, Colonel (P) Sadimin, S.E., M.Tr. Opsla
Chief Justice of the Banda Aceh High Court, Nursyam, Sh., M.Hum
Chairman of the Aceh Ulema Consultative Assembly, Tgk. H. Faisal Ali

PDF file can be downloaded here: Information from Forkopimda Aceh