Jakarta—Various groups have criticised the proposal to grant mining concessions to universities to support campus funding as not logical. They say it reflects a development model that continues to rely on exploiting natural resources with destructive environmental impacts.
“Granting mining concessions to universities is a very illogical idea. This shows a wrong mindset in managing natural resources,” said Firdaus Cahyadi, Founder of Indonesian Climate Justice Literacy, in a written statement on Thursday, January 23.
Firdaus emphasised that university funding should be done in more sustainable ways that do not damage the environment. “There are still many creative solutions that can be used to support campus finances without sacrificing the ecosystem and surrounding communities,” he added.
Extractive development model
This plan involves revising the Mineral and Coal Law (Minerba Law), which could lead to universities receiving mining concessions. Firdaus believes this policy shows that the government is still adhering to an extractive development model that can potentially exacerbate environmental damage and social conflict.
“Granting mining concessions to campuses will only exacerbate environmental problems and open up opportunities for universities to justify this damage with scientific arguments,” Firdaus explained.
According to him, universities should be institutions that encourage ecological awareness and sustainable innovation, not the other way around. “If campuses are involved in the mining business, this is tantamount to creating a conflict of interest that damages academic integrity and public trust,” he continued.
Firdaus also criticised the reason for nationalism, which is often used to justify mining concessions to national parties, including universities. According to him, this argument is irrelevant because the destructive power of mining does not change, regardless of who manages it.
“Whether foreigners or nationals control mines, the ecological and social impacts remain the same. Environmental damage, water pollution and community conflict are the real impacts of the mining-based development model,” he said.
He called on the public to be more critical of such policies and not be easily swayed by nationalism’s rhetoric. “Don’t let us be fooled by reasons that only obscure the fact that mining destroys the environment and threatens the lives of local communities,” Firdaus added.
Furthermore, Firdaus suspects that giving mining concessions to universities and religious mass organisations is an attempt to reduce resistance to environmental damage. “Religious organisations that receive concessions can use religious interpretations to justify mining, while universities will produce scientific justifications that support this exploitation,” he explained.
According to him, this step will strengthen the resistance of people who have begun to realise the importance of protecting the environment. “This is a betrayal of the moral values and knowledge that should be the foundation of religious organisations and universities,” said Firdaus.
Firdaus emphasised that the government and universities need to find a more sustainable solution for education funding. “Many alternatives can be developed, such as partnerships with the private sector in research and innovation, optimisation of the education budget, and professional management of campus assets,” he said.
He also said that environmental sustainability must be prioritised in every policy. “Education is a long-term investment, and there is no point if it has to be paid for by destroying the future of our environment,” Firdaus concluded. (Hartatik)
