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Gold mine protester tried for spreading communism as red scare sweeps Indonesia
Sydney Morning Herald - October 12, 2017
The case comes as the spectre of a resurgent red peril has once again inflamed the country more than 50 years after the leftist movement was brutally crushed.
In circumstances that local media have described as reminiscent of Suharto's authoritarian New Order regime, Heri Budiawan could face up to 12 years in jail for spreading communism.
Prosecutor Budhi Cahyono said banners made by protesters against a gold mine in Banyuwangi in East Java on April 4 contained a hammer and sickle drawing in red spray paint like that used by the defunct Indonesian Communist Party, the PKI.
"The defendant led the activities of the people protesting and did not stop or prevent the placement of the banner with the hammer and sickle symbol identical to the PKI symbol, knowing that communism is forbidden in Indonesia," Mr Budhi said in the indictment in the Banyuwangi District Court.
"The defendant's act was against the law... in regards to crimes against the security of the nation."
But environmental groups claim the gold mine, PT Bumi Suksesindo, is using the communism allegations as a tactic to shut down protests against alleged environmental damage caused by the mine.
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