TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The gentle murmur of the Alue Baro River was barely audible as a prolonged dry season gripped Bangkeh village in Geumpang subdistrict, Pidie Regency, Aceh, on Friday, July 17, 2026. The river was only knee-deep, with a meager flow for a waterway roughly 30 meters wide.
"In the past, the river was deep and flowed strongly year round. Now that's gone because of heavy sedimentation," said a Bangkeh resident who requested anonymity.
He, and several residents from neighboring villages interviewed by Tempo, had compelling reasons to withhold their identities. They believed the silting of the Alue Baro River was caused by illegal gold mining, an illicit business run through networks capable of intimidating those who oppose the operations.
In recent years, residents of Bangkeh village have experienced the cascading effects of environmental degradation upstream Alue Baro. "Whenever there's heavy rain, the river overflows," the villager said.
The headwaters of the Alue Baro River lie within a protected forest zone. The river encircles Bangkeh village before flowing into the Geumpang River. Located about 183 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, the area forms part of the Teunom River Basin.
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