Lower thirds:

00:03 Report by / Ferdinand Himawan
00:22 Arif / Illegal Gold Miner 
01:18 Mulyono / Owner of Illegal Gold Mine
01:57  Inspector General Krisno H. Siregar / Jambi Police Chief   
02:38 Al Haris / Governor of Jambi 

Script:

00:00-00:19 
Just beneath the soil lies gold. In Merangin, Jambi Province, illegal mining operates in broad daylight, hidden among palm oil plantations. With gold prices rising, activity here is intensifying. For safety reasons, we cannot show their faces. 

00:20-00:39 
+++ Arif, Illegal Gold Miner +++
"There’s no farming here — the land isn’t fertile. There are no factory jobs either. So we don’t really have a choice. I know this work is illegal. But if we can’t earn a living, we can’t eat. Rather than turning to crime, we do this. We’re not harming anyone." 

00:40-01:05 
Illegal gold mining is not limited to Jambi, it stretches across the country. The Indonesia Mining Institute estimates illegal mines produce around 120 tonnes of gold a year, nearly matching the country’s official output. Authorities say the trade was worth up to 59 billion US dollars between 2023 and 2025. 

01:06-01:16 
Small illegal mining sites can yield up to ten grams of gold a day, while miners earn just twelve US dollars, risking raids and fatal accidents. 

01:17-01:36 
+++ Mulyono, Owner of Illegal Gold Mine +++
"We know this work is dangerous, and we’re afraid. But we do it to support our families. We’re asking for understanding and solutions, so we can work without fear." 

01:37-01:54 
In Jambi, the practice has gone on for decades, with the number of mining sites continuing to grow. Local residents say some operations are backed by people linked to government, while others are protected by communities who depend on mining for income. 

01:54-02:12  
+++ Inspector General Krisno H. Siregar, Jambi Police Chief +++
"Illegal gold mining is extremely difficult to eradicate. It involves the livelihoods of many people and has been going on for years. Police action alone is not enough. Often, by the time we arrive, the mine owners and workers have already fled. That’s why we also need support from local communities, including indigenous groups, so there is a shared understanding that illegal mining is dangerous." 

02:13-02:27 
The damage is severe. WALHI, an environmental NGO, says illegal gold mining has destroyed 44,000 hectares of forest, increasing the risk of floods and landslides, while mercury has polluted rivers. 

02:28-02:34 
Yet the government admits shutting the mines down completely could harm local livelihoods. 

02:34-02:58 
+++ Al Haris, Governor of Jambi +++
"In Jambi, certain areas have already been designated as community mining zones. However, regulations prohibit the use of heavy machinery. The goal is to ensure people can still make a living — but in ways that do not damage the environment or put their own safety at risk."  

02:59-03:20 
The government’s plan reflects what many miners are hoping for and is set to take effect in April. But environmental activists warn it could backfire, legitimizing illegal mining and worsening environmental damage if oversight remains weak.  

END