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Indonesia: Land rights activists attacked and killed for protesting illegal sand mining
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - October 23, 2015
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the killing of environmental activist, Mr. Salim (known as Salim Kancil) and the attack on Mr. Tosan in Selok Awar-Awar Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. The two activists were attacked by thugs who were ordered and supported by the Head of Selok Awar-Awar Village, Mr. Hariyono, and the police officers of Pasiran police sector (Polsek Pasiran). The attack occurred due to the activists having organized a protest against illegal sand mining. Moreover, according to some witnesses, the illegal mining is also supported by local parliament members of Lumajang.
Case narrative:
On Saturday, 26 September 2015, villagers of Selok Awar Awar were shocked to learn of the attack on two local environmental activists, Mr. Salim and Mr. Tosan, who are also local peasants. The attack resulted in the death of Salim. The case began when around 40 people (known thugs) with motorcycles came to Tosan's house at 7:30 a.m. carrying wood, hoes, sickles, and stones. Without any conversation, the people immediately attacked and tried to drag Tosan from his house. Tosan tried to escape using his bike.
Tosan was hit by a motorcycle in the field not far from his house. They stopped attacking Tosan after a villager, Ridwan, tried to stop them. Subsequently the thugs headed to Salim's house, and when they arrived, Salim was holding his five-year-old grandson. The thugs tied up Salim and dragged him for two kilometers, finally taking him to the hall of Selok Awar-Awar Village.
On the way to the hall the thugs continued to torture Salim. When they arrived at the hall, though many children, students of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) gathered around and witnessed the torture, they continued to beat Salim with various tools, such as sticks, stones, and bamboo.
They then brought Salim to the graveyard and stoned him to death.
Additional information:
Legal and illegal mining has become a serious concern over the past five years in Indonesia. Such exploitation of natural resources has contributed to a number of human rights violations in Indonesia, such as murder, torture, attacks, illegal detention, land grabbing and forced eviction.
The most serious problem in the mining sector is the law enforcement itself, because in many cases police tend to ignore rights violations and environmental and material damage caused by the exploitation of natural resources.
Though the Constitutional Court (MK) has issued a verdict No 35/PUU-X/2012 that protects customary land, the violation of land rights continues in Indonesia. Furthermore, in some cases security forces are also involved in supporting the mining company, perhaps due to receiving compensation from the company, such as in the case of the Freeport company in Papua Province and other areas in Indonesia.
Suggested action:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that an immediate investigation into the attack on the activists is carried out and the perpetrators are prosecuted. Moreover, the Chief of National Police should ensure that an investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers and government officials as well as local parliament members is initiated. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), as well as Indonesian Parliament, in particular Commission III, should monitor and evaluate whether the investigation is conducted in accordance with standards of fair trial.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, and Independent Expert on human rights and the environment asking for their intervention into this case.
To support this case, please click here: http://www.urgentappeals.net/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-131-2015
Sample letter:
Dear....................,
Indonesia: Land rights activists attacked and killed for protesting illegal sand mining
On Saturday, 26 September 2015, villagers of Selok Awar Awar were shocked to learn of the attack on two local environmental activists, Mr. Salim and Mr. Tosan, who are also local peasants. The attack resulted in the death of Salim. The case began when around 40 people (known thugs) with motorcycles came to Tosan's house at 7:30 a.m. carrying wood, hoes, sickles, and stones. Without any conversation, the people immediately attacked and tried to drag Tosan from his house. Tosan tried to escape using his bike.
Tosan was hit by a motorcycle in the field not far from his house. They stopped attacking Tosan after a villager, Ridwan, tried to stop them. Subsequently the thugs headed to Salim's house, and when they arrived, Salim was holding his five-year-old grandson. The thugs tied up Salim and dragged him for two kilometers, finally taking him to the hall of Selok Awar-Awar Village.
On the way to the hall the thugs continued to torture Salim. When they arrived at the hall, though many children, students of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) gathered around and witnessed the torture, they continued to beat Salim with various tools, such as sticks, stones, and bamboo.
They then brought Salim to the graveyard and stoned him to death.
Therefore, I respectfully call upon the police to ensure that an immediate investigation into the attack on the activists is carried out and the perpetrators are prosecuted. Moreover, the Chief of National Police should ensure that an investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers and government officials as well as local parliament members is initiated. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) as well as the Indonesian Parliament, in particular Commission III, should monitor and evaluate whether the investigation is conducted in accordance with standards of fair trial.
Yours Sincerely,
...................
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of
the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No.
16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458
595
Fax: +62 21 3484
4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna
Laoly
Minister of Law
and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6 -- 7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525
3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525
3095
3. Dr. Mualimin
Abdi SH., MH
Director General
of Human Rights
Office of the
Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav. 6 -- 7
Kuningan, Jakarta
12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Badroedin
Haiti
Chief of National
Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3
Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384
8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220
669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Police Inspector
General Anas Yusuf
The Chief Police
of East Java Province Police Area
Kapolda Jawa
Timur
Jalan Ahmad Yani
116 Kota Surabaya, Jawa Timur
INDONESIA
Fax: +62 31 8290058/+
62 31 829 0333
6. Mr. Luhut Binsar
Panjaitan
Chairperson National
Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa
VII No. 20
Kebayoran Baru,
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739
2315
Fax: +62 21 739
2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id,
skm@kompolnas.go.id
7. Mr. Danang
Girindrawardana
Chairperson of
Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna
Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (Gedung Pengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
8. Mr. Nur Kholis
Chairperson
National Human
Rights Commission
Jl. Latuharhary
No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392
5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392
5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals
Programme
Asian Human Rights
Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Source: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-130-2015.
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