Editorial
By ruling against executive discretion in mining permits, the Constitutional Court has drawn a long-overdue line between public wealth and political favoritism.
An aerial photo taken on May 6, 2024, shows a coal storage yard next to the Batanghari River in Muaro Jambi, Jambi, on May 6, 2024. (Antara/Wahdi Septiawan)
The Constitutional Court made it clear last Thursday that whoever benefits from Indonesia's mineral wealth must be decided by rules, not by discretion.By declaring that the government cannot directly appoint recipients of mining permits, and that all allocations must undergo an objective, accountable selection process, the court has drawn a boundary that should have been established years ago.
This is a necessary and welcome ruling. No one is exempt from its logic: not religious organizations, not cooperatives, not small and medium enterprises (SMEs), not universities.
