Vice Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Alex Indra Lukman, has called on law enforcement officials to take a firm stance against the rampant illegal hiking activities in the Mount Merapi area. This step is considered crucial given that the status of the active volcano remains at the Alert (Siaga) level, placing public safety as an absolute priority.
Alex made this statement after leading a specific working visit to the office of the Mount Merapi National Park (TNGM) Center on Friday (10/7/2026). He emphasized that the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry needs to strengthen coordination with relevant authorities to strictly crack down on any violations of rules within the conservation area.
According to Alex, protecting citizens' lives is a constitutional mandate regulated in the 1945 Constitution. Therefore, the closure policy of hiking trails implemented by the TNGM Center since 2018 must be fully respected, as the decision is based on a real volcanic risk assessment.
While supporting law enforcement, the DPR also noted that the government should not focus solely on prohibitions. Central and local governments are encouraged to collaborate to create alternative livelihoods for local residents who have economically relied on the Mount Merapi tourism area.
On the other hand, Head of the TNGM Center, Heri Wibowo, acknowledged significant challenges in monitoring the area. His office still frequently finds individuals who recklessly engage in trekking or hiking secretly, despite all official routes being closed for collective safety.
