Call to End Mining in Raja Ampat to Save Ecosystem and Tourism
- Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay
Jakarta, VoxPop – Chairman of Indonesian Regional of Representatives Committee III, Filep Wamafma, has strongly condemned the nickel mining activities taking place in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.
He believes such actions pose a serious threat to the environment and the long-term economic wellbeing of the local communities.
According to Wamafma, nickel exploitation will bring new problems to Raja Ampat—not just environmental degradation, but also the loss of people’s livelihoods.
He emphasized that Raja Ampat is a national strategic area rich in biodiversity, and tourism is the main source of income for its residents.
“If mining is allowed to continue, the ecosystem will be destroyed. Forests will be cut down, the land excavated, water and air polluted, fish will vanish, and biodiversity will disappear. The damage will be irreversible—even enormous funding won’t be able to restore it,” he said in a statement on Monday (June 9).
Dermaga Piaynemo Island, Kabupaten Raja Ampat
- ANTARA FOTO/Darwin Fatir
Therefore, Wamafma has called on the President of Indonesia to instruct his ministers, particularly the Minister of Forestry and the Minister of Environment, to immediately address the issue of nickel mining in Raja Ampat.
He even urged the government to revoke all mining permits in the region.
“The government must conduct a thorough investigation. Mining permits that damage the environment must be revoked without compromise. The state must not bow to economic pressure. The long-term interests of the people and the sustainability of natural resources are far more important,” he stated.
Wamafma added that the mindset of government officials must change. Progress, he said, is not just about numbers or money—it’s about protecting land, sea, forests, and their sustainability.
He rejected the temporary suspension issued by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, stressing that the mining operations in Raja Ampat must be permanently shut down.
