Academics and environmental activists have rejected the government’s plan to grant Mining Business Permits (IUP) to universities as the policy is anticipated to weaken academics’ critical power towards the Prabowo Subianto administration and have the potential to damage the ecosystem, especially those of small islands.
“The government’s offer to grant mining business permits (IUP) to universities is an act of degrading the position of academics who have dignity and integrity. Granting universities the rights to manage mines will further worsen the situation and silence the critical thinking of academics,” Sitti Marwah, a lecturer from Kendari-based Halu Oleo University spoke in an online discussion held by Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) and the Eastern Academic Forum Against Mining on Small Islands on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
She emphasized that this policy must be reviewed so that universities continue to carry out their role as guardians of morality, social justice, and environmental sustainability.
Similiarly, Head of the Forestry Department at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram, Andi Chairil Ichsan, emphasized the importance of academic neutrality in natural resource governance.
“Academic neutrality and integrity must remain the main pillars in encouraging improvements in natural resource governance in a sustainable manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Professor La Ode M. Aslan of Halu Oleo University reminded universities not to be divided by the interests of the extractive industry.
“Don’t let universities be pitted against each other regarding this mining problem. We must unite and voice the truth based on objective science,” he said.
The impact of mining on the environment was also a major highlight in the discussion. Based on 2024 data of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the number of mineral and coal IUPs in Indonesia has reached 4,634 permits, reflecting the increasingly massive expansion of the mining industry.
Data from FWI also shows that as many as 149 IUPs are spread across 242 small islands, with mining activities in forest areas reaching an area of 4,997,564.48 hectares. This has caused deforestation of 271,642.78 hectares or around 3 percent of the national average deforestation rate.
Professor in Forest Planning and Forest Resources Economy at Ambon-based Pattimura University, Agus Kastanya, proposed that the rectors’ forum be involved in discussions and academic studies on the impact of IUP on universities.
“It would be better if there was a study involving the rectors’ forum, so that they truly understand the factual conditions in the field, especially on small islands in Eastern Indonesia and the impacts that will be caused,” he said.
