In Indonesia the government estimates there are 62,000 illegal miners across the country, twice the number working legally. Mines and Energy Minister Bambang Yudhoyono told parliament recently that annual losses amounted to 30 tonnes of gold. Thus far there are no answers to the problem. President Wahid's decree calls on the police chief and attorney-general to take "stern legalaction" against anyone involved in illegal mining--"both government apparatus and community members." But it also seeks to recognize the rights of indigenous miners and calls on legal mining firms to provide more help to local communities. One of those local communities is Presanggaran as small town located just east of mount Tumpang Pitu in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia.
