Law Enforcement Toward Illegal Limestone Mining in Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze law enforcement toward cases of illegal limestone mining in Gunungkidul Regency and its obstacles.   Methods: This research uses a social-legal approach. Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with resource persons and community members. Apart from that, data is also obtained through observations. Researchers analyzed the data obtained qualitatively.   Result and Conclusion: The results show that law enforcement against illegal limestone mining cases is not the same in every case, some are criminally processed, and some are not. Cases of illegal limestone mining that are criminally processed are caused by strong pressure from the community because illegal limestone mining damages the environment. Two cases of illegal limestone mining were criminally processed and subject to criminal sanctions and fines. This difference in handling illegal limestone mining creates legal uncertainty and difficulties in controlling limestone miners to comply with permits. Several obstacles arise in law enforcement against illegal limestone mining, namely the lack of public awareness of the importance of legal protection for the environment and differences in society between community groups that prioritize environmental protection and community groups that prioritize economic interests.   Research Implications: This research is useful for creating law enforcement that has a deterrent effect on illegal limestone miners, so that people have the awareness to carry out limestone mining legally based on permission from authorized officials. Apart from that, it is also to create law enforcement that provides certainty, so that there are no different solutions to each case of illegal limestone mining.   Originality/value: Finding effective solutions to limestone mining cases, so as to increase community compliance in carrying out limestone mining in accordance with the provisions of statutory regulations.