Jakarta, Oct. 29 -- Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stressed that he will take firm action against illegal mining activity carried out in Halimun Salak National Park area, West Java.

"Everyone (involved) will be dealt with as firmly as possible. (As for sanction), please refer to the regulation. Everything which we can do (to address the issue), we will do it," Antoni made the statement here on Wednesday.

He has instructed the ministry's directorate of law enforcement to resolve the matter and impose sanctions on the perpetrators.

Earlier, images of rows of blue tents in the Halimun Salak National Park area went viral on social media after being spotted on Google Maps satellite imagery.

Illegal mining is also suspected to be taking...