Jakarta, April 17 -- President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia to take immediate action against illegal mines operating in Indonesian forest areas.

The president issued this order after the minister submitted a report evaluating several illegal mining business permits (IUPs) operating in protected and conservation forests.

"Some are in protected forests, conservation forests, nature reserves, and several IUPs within forest areas," Lahadalia said after attending a meeting with the president on Thursday.

During a Government Working Meeting on April 8, Prabowo ordered the minister to re-evaluate these permits within one week to address the issue of illegal operations.

In an official ...