INDONESIA: Police killed two student protesters and injured 82 others in anti-gold mining protest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 10, 2012 -- Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-021-2012

10 February 2012
------------------------------------------------------
INDONESIA: Police killed two student protesters and injured 82 others in anti-gold mining protest

ISSUES: Police violence; freedom of expression; extrajudicial killing; food security; right to land; rule of law
------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) received information that the police shot local farmers and students who were demonstrating against the gold exploration plan in several sub-districts in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara Province, on 24 December 2011. Two student protesters died and 77 others were injured in the shooting. Five others were also injured by police violence. Police arrested the protesters and 37 were reportedly held in custody whereas only two police officers were sentenced to a light two-day imprisonment for the attack.

CASE NARRATIVE:

(Photo: Protest against gold exploration plans and land grabbing/source: KontraS)

According to the information from the Commission for the Disappeared Victims of Violence (KontraS), a human rights group based in Jakarta, in the early morning of 24 December 2011, about 500 police officers came to Sape Seaport, Bima, where local farmers were conducting a peaceful demonstration against the gold exploration plan in the sub-districts of Sape, Lambu and Langgudu of Bima Regency. The Bima Regent, Mr. Ferry Zulkarnaen, had given concession to PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN) for gold exploration on 24,980 hectares of land in Sape, Lambu and Langgudu, Bima. To suppress and disperse the protest, armed police officers led by the Head of Bima District Police, AKBP Kumpul KS arrived at the scene. Moreover, snipers were reportedly positioned on the roof of local houses, and there were approximately 15 ambulances provided by the police.

Mr. Hassanudin, who led the demonstration, informed the police that they would leave the port if the police agreed to provide them with a guarantee letter for their safety. Despite this peaceful proposal, Mr. Hassanudin was arrested and the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) started shooting the protesters, resulting in two deaths and the injury of 77 persons. Five others were injured as a result of police beatings. The police arrested protesters while kicking and hitting them with guns; 37 of those arrested are still being held in custody. The police later conducted an operation to find and arrest the participants of the demonstration in surrounding villages.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) subsequently claimed that the shooting amounted to violations of Law No. 39 Year 1999 on Human Rights. The NHRC gave its investigation result to the Indonesian National Police, which responded by promising that it would ‘follow-up what the NHRC has found’ so that ‘it is clear to us what actually the problems are about’. The National Head of Police, General Timur Pradopo, also promised that the investigation and trial regarding this case would be transparent.

On 19 January 2012, two members of the Mobile Brigade were sentenced to two days in prison, and a two-month delay of their educational programs was sanctioned. First Brig. Wahidin and First Brig. Furqon were convicted by the West Nusa Tenggara Police’s disciplinary court for insubordination and violating procedures. As the police disciplinary court does not provide criminal accountability, the responsible officers must be properly investigated, prosecuted and punished in accordance with Indonesia’s criminal procedure law.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN) is a multinational mining company, 95 percent of whose shares are held by Arc Exploration, an Australian publicly listed company along with Indonesian partner, Sumber Mineral Nusantara focused on gold exploration in Indonesia. Refusal to the gold exploration plan from local farmers in Lambu sub-district had been expressed since October 2010. Although SMN obtained the exploration permit from the Regency administration in 2008, the local residents were aware of this only since 2010 because the permit was granted without any consultation or notification to the local residents who would be affected. Furthermore, the residents have been expressing their concern that the gold mine operation will dry up the water resources, which would disrupt the farmers’ agricultural activities and livelihood. The question about environmental destruction has been also raised. (Photo: Destroyed property after clashes and police attack/source: KontraS)

Assisted by local students, in January 2011 the farmers held another demonstration urging the Head of Lambu sub-district to sign an open letter refusing the exploration plan. The Head of Lambu sub-district failed to sign the open letter for the reason that it required a consultation with the Bima Regent. Later in December 2011, the local farmers held a demonstration and visited several heads of villages to collect their signatures and support to oppose the gold mining.

As the administration continued to ignore the farmers’ concerns, the farmers decided to occupy Sape Seaport to urge the Bima Regent to revoke the concession. The demonstration started on 19 December 2011, but on the fifth day, hundreds of police officers including Brimob officers as well as patrol (sabhara) came to the port. Their intention was to disperse the demonstration as it was disturbing the activities of ferries and ships wishing to dock in the port. The representatives of the farmers were later invited by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) for a dialogue, along with the representatives of the police. The dialogue led to the conclusion that the safety of the protesters would be guaranteed as they leave the port and that the local government will re-evaluate the concession issued to the company.

The shooting in Sape Port led to the anger of local residents and brought the land issue to the attention of the public. After persistent pressures from the local farmers in Bima as well as various civil society organizations, the Regent decided to revoke the permit it previously gave to SMN as confirmed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Jero Wacik, on 26 January 2012.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
http://goo.gl/99kyH

Extrajudicial killings     food security     freedom of expression     Police Violence     right to land     RULE OF LAW