Late-night Hambalang meeting highlights government’s focus on illegal mining and forest control.

President Prabowo Subianto abruptly called senior ministers, security chiefs, and legal officers to his Hambalang residence on August 19, 2025, to discuss pressing issues of illegal mining and forest land control.

Urgent Hambalang Meeting

According to Cabinet Secretary Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya, the closed-door meeting lasted more than four hours. Those present included Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Foreign Minister Sugiono, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Attorney General ST Burhanuddin, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto.

Focus on Illegal Mining

The meeting came days after Prabowo’s state address at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on August 15, where he warned against military or police generals protecting illegal mining businesses. Prabowo cited 1,063 illegal mines causing state losses of up to Rp300 trillion, vowing decisive action.

Warnings to Security Forces

Prabowo stressed that he would not hesitate to order the TNI Commander and National Police Chief to act firmly. He instructed that enforcement operations should sometimes involve personnel from outside affected provinces to avoid local bias or collusion.

Forest Land Recovery

The president also linked the crackdown to broader forest control. He highlighted that 3.1 million hectares of land had already been reclaimed under Presidential Regulation No. 5/2025, part of a larger target addressing 3.7 million hectares of violations across 5 million hectares.

Party Discipline and Public Trust

Prabowo cautioned members of his Gerindra Party against involvement in illegal mining, urging them to act as justice collaborators if approached by business operators. He emphasized that no political affiliation would shield wrongdoers from prosecution.

Civil Society’s Response

However, civil society groups remain skeptical. The Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) criticized Prabowo’s strong rhetoric as “empty” and failing to address entrenched power structures. Campaign division head Alfarhat Kasman noted that for decades, illegal mining profits have benefited a small circle of corporations, politicians, and security elites rather than the public.

Prabowo’s late-night meeting underscores the gravity of illegal mining and forest violations in Indonesia, while signaling a stronger stance against elite protection networks. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the outcome of these measures will be closely watched, given their impact on environmental sustainability, cross-border resource trade, and regional governance integrity.

Sources: Kompas (2025) , Tempo (2025)

Keywords: Prabowo Subianto, Illegal Mining, Hambalang Meeting, TNI, Kapolri, Cabinet Ministers, Forest Control