Jakarta – Amidst the rapid flow of digital information, Indonesian people are required to be smarter in sorting and responding to circulating content, especially related to strategic issues such as the environment and mining in Raja Ampat. The government has shown clear support for environmental conservation by revoking the Mining Business Permits (IUP) of four companies on the small islands of Raja Ampat. However, this effort is actually overshadowed by the spread of hoaxes that mislead the public.
One of the uploads on platform X by the account “@ilhampid” shows a video that seems to depict ecological destruction due to mining from Sabang to Merauke. This video includes visuals of damage associated with Piaynemo Island in Raja Ampat. However, the results of the MAFINDO Team’s search using the InVID WeVerify digital verification tool prove that the image comes from an illegal mine in North Sulawesi. This fact confirms that the upload is a false context, or the spread of content with the wrong context.
In the midst of this polemic, the government is taking a firm stance. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia denied the narrative of environmental damage in Piaynemo. In his statement, Bahlil said that the circulating photos had been doctored and stamped as hoaxes.
“So I ask my fellow countrymen and women, please be careful in responding to various information, we must also be wise. Be able to distinguish between what is real and what is not true,” said Bahlil.
He also explained that Piaynemo is a Raja Ampat geopark whose sustainability is maintained, and not as depicted in the viral video.
Supporting Bahlil’s steps, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi revealed that the government’s decision to revoke the IUP was a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto. The companies whose permits were revoked were PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Nurham, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining.
“On the instructions of the President, he decided that the government would revoke the IUP of 4 companies in Raja Ampat Regency,” he said.
This step also proves that the state is present to protect the natural wealth and the future of sustainable tourism in Southwest Papua. However, protecting nature is not enough from a policy perspective. The community also plays a vital role in maintaining the truth of information so that it is not exploited by irresponsible parties.
Hoaxes are not just false information. They can distort perceptions, create chaos, and even hinder good government policies. Therefore, let’s increase awareness together to be smart on social media, avoid spreading unverified content, and stick to official sources.
Raja Ampat is a world heritage that we need to protect, not make it an object of manipulation. It’s time to save the facts, protect the truth, and protect Indonesia from the onslaught of digital hoaxes.
