By the Investigative Team of Insetgalusnews.com
THE FOREST THAT IS NO LONGER SILENT
In the heart of Tangsaran Forest, the roar of machines has replaced birdsong. Mountains are split open, vegetation destroyed, and the land begins to speak. All in the name of gold exploration. But is that all there is?
The morning sun has just touched the treetops on the slopes of Tangsaran, Pantan Cuaca District, Gayo Lues, Aceh, when the sound of excavators breaks the silence. Earth is dug up, hills are carved, and new pathways are cut into the forest’s body. Not far from the site, a weathered sign reading “No Forest Burning” stands amid thinning greenery.
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The activity is legal. Permits have been obtained. But what’s being questioned is not just the paperwork-but the impact.
EXCAVATORS IN A LANDSLIDE-PRONE AREA
Documents reviewed by the Insetgalusnews.com team show machinery opening access to drilling points. Nearby, hills are sliced, vegetation cleared, and new routes forged at a worrying pace. Some locals are uneasy, though their voices are muted by uncertainty and fear.
“They said they have permits. But this is forest land, and we know the soil here is prone to landslides,” said a resident of Pantan Cuaca.
LOCALS ONCE ARRESTED
According to the community, this area was long designated as protected forest. Residents recall that in the past, a local was prosecuted merely for attempting to clear land for coffee farming—accused of damaging protected forest. That wound still lingers. What’s more painful now is that the same area has been reclassified as APL (Other Land Use) simply because a big company has moved in. It feels as if the law only applies to small people, while when large interests are involved, forest status can change at will.
“OUR COMPANY HAS ALL THE PERMITS”
A representative of PT Gayo Mineral Resource (GMR), Mr. Wira, when contacted by phone on June 10, 2025, assured that all necessary permits, including the IPPKH (Forest Use Permit) for exploration from the Ministry of Forestry, have been secured.
“For permits and concession details, you can check on MOMI Minerba, and as for the protected forest, we have the IPPKH for exploration,” he said.
“THIS IS ALLOWED, AS PER THE IPPKH”
Documents obtained by Insetgalusnews.com reveal tree felling and soil excavation with heavy machinery at the PT GMR mining site. This raises the question: is this aligned with procedures, considering the activity is still labeled as exploration?
Wira clarified: “Such activities are allowed. For APL areas, exploration is permissible. And for the protected forest zone, PT GMR has obtained the IPPKH for exploration.”
He emphasized that the heavy equipment is not used for production or massive excavation, but purely to facilitate drilling operations and logistical needs.
However, field observations show the widening clearings, damaged vegetation, and altered land contours-underscoring that even legally permitted exploration requires strict oversight, especially in such ecologically fragile areas. Environmental observers also point out that the site appears uncomfortably close to, or overlapping with, protected and conservation zones.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEFT IN THE DARK
The Head of the Gayo Lues Mining and Energy Office, Riduan ST, admitted on June 9, 2025, that his office has no authority over these activities.
“The permits are issued by the central government. We only receive reports on their presence. We don’t know the details of their operations,” he said.
This illustrates how centralized licensing leaves local governments as mere spectators, lacking the tools to assess or stop activities potentially harmful to the local environment.
GIVING THE FOREST BACK ITS VOICE
Tangsaran Forest is more than just a landscape. It is home to endemic flora, vital water sources, and wildlife corridors now disturbed. Exploration on just 2.4 hectares may seem small, but it could open the door to much wider damage if not properly monitored.
“Today’s exploration can become tomorrow’s exploitation,” warned an environmental activist in Gayo Lues. “And when that happens, it may be too late.”
LEGAL DOESN’T MEAN HARMLESS
In conclusion, while PT GMR has exploration permits, permission is not justification for ignoring impacts. The Gayo Lues forest is highly vulnerable, with steep erosion and landslide risks. Activities here demand more than documents-they require transparency, strict oversight, and public involvement.
Without that, the once-silent forest may speak-through disaster.
INFOGRAPHIC | KEY FACTS ABOUT PT GMR
- Company Name: PT Gayo Mineral Resource (GMR)
- Location: Pantan Cuaca District, Gayo Lues, Aceh
- Activity Type: Gold Mining Exploration
- Concession Area (IUP): ~34,550 hectares
- Active Exploration Area: ~2.4 hectares
- Land Status: APL, Bordering Protected Forest & Limited Production Forest
- Workers: 12 from Jakarta, 27 local
- Protected Forest Permit: IPPKH No. 263 Year 2025 (May 16, 2025)
The editorial team of insetgalusnews.com provides accurate information based on current developments in Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh, Sumatra. This information is intended for the Indonesian public to enhance knowledge and awareness as part of social control, while also offering the right of reply to any institution, individual, or organization mentioned by the editorial team.
