Aceh Illegal Gold Mining Persists After Government Crackdown Pledge

Two weeks after Aceh officials pledged to halt illegal gold mining by Indonesia’s independence anniversary, local communities report that excavators continue to operate in the forest interior. Community leaders in Nagan Raya and South Aceh say heavy equipment is still accessing riverbanks and mountainsides, and diesel is scarce at gas stations because of mining use. Tarpaulin shelters remain at sites in Pidie district. The August 17 deadline set by top government, security, and law‑enforcement officials has not been met, and mining activity is ongoing. The continued extraction threatens the Leuser Ecosystem, home to endangered species such as Sumatran elephants, orangutans, and tigers.