Coronavirus also hits our country, Indonesia. With the first case registered in March 2020, the government has gradually applied the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) in order to hold the increasing number of COVID-19 positive patients down. This affects the Indonesians’ economy because of the restriction on many activities, including temporary closure of workplace and restriction on activities at public space. The economic impact is also felt by the global society. The worldwide society’s fear for possible global
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In one day, they may collect about 1 gram gold, that will be valued at Rp800,000, which is certainly tempting for the surrounding people.
economic downfall causes investors and speculators throughout the world to buy gold (commodity deemed to protect economic instability). The increasing demand for gold makes gold price to soar up to Rp1,056,000 per gram (Antam). This is taken advantage of by the society in Indonesian rural areas to mine gold illegally in areas deemed to have high gold content. The river flow around the Grasberg site under the coverage of PT Freeport Indonesia becomes one of the destinations of the illegal miners. The gold in the river
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Indonesia
flow is still mixed in the mud, separated using simple filter mad of fabric. In one day, they may collect about 1 gram gold, that will be valued at Rp800,000, which is certainly tempting for the surrounding people. The dangers threatening the illegal miners are not only from possible exposure to the virus amidst the pandemic, but also from exposure to other diseases, particularly skin disease since they work on river flow containing mining waste of PT Freeport Indonesia. In addition, there is also a threat from the rebel (OPM) in their guerrilla operation in the forest and possible arrest by local security authority. Besides in the depth of Papuan forest, illegal mining is also performed by West Kalimantan people. Because of economic difficulty, the people turn to be gold miner on the rivers of their area. The environmental damage caused by the illegal mining is in the form of water contamination because of the use of mercury for
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/23/pandemic-panners-indonesians-hunt-for-gold-in-desperate-times.html
Unauthorized Gold Mining Practice in Papua
gold refinement that has actually been banned in Indonesia from 2017. The rivers also serve as the source of water for people living along the place where the rivers flow, causing potential disease in case of people’s exposure to it. In the last September, the police successfully caught about 400 illegal gold miners operating in Kalimantan, who were subject to maximum 15 years of imprisonment. Peru Not far different from the condition in Indonesia, people of Peru who are still under the shadow of the economic crisis because of the Covid-19 pandemic choose to turn to be illegal gold miner. Peru’s economy
https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5156762/400-penambang-emasilegal-di-cagar-alam-mandor-kalbar-diamankan
The damage caused by unauthorized mining practice in West Kalimantan
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contracts for about 40% in the last April compared to that in 2019, and gold’s soaring price triggers this shift of profession.
