From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Indonesia: CHURCH PROTESTS HARASSMENT OF YAMDENA PEOPLE
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:59:54 GMT

/** gen.nativenet: 335.0 **/
** Topic: Yamdena Islanders Harassed **
** Written  2:53 pm  Sep 23, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:gen.nativenet **
Original-Sender: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>

/* Written  6:21 pm  Sep 22, 1992 by gn:tapol in cdp:reg.indonesia */

CHURCH PROTEST HARASSMENT OF YAMDENA PEOPLE
Date 19 September 1992
Source: Jakarta Post

Bishop Mgr. Sol of Maluku has issued a strong letter of protest on
the physical harassment and intimidation of the Yamdena islanders
opposing the commercial exploitation of island's forests.
  Police in charge of securing the business interests of PT Alam
Nusa Segar, a company owned by tycoon Liem Sioe Liong, have taken
the law into their own hands by beating up the islanders, Bishop
Sol said in the "strongly worded" letter.
  The Bishop warned that the authorities' heavy handed actions
against islanders could lead to divisions of the people of the
predominantly Christian island.  "They have acted with iron hands
and extra-judicially against the people they are supposed to
protect", he said in the letter dated 14 Sept which he sent to the
Governor of Maluku, the provincial police and military command, the
legislative council (DPRD) and high court.
  Bishop Sol referred to an incident on 14 Sept when dozens of
furious residents ransacked the company's logging equipment and
facilities.  A series of similar accidents had reportedly taken
place since July 17.  The most recent arrest resulted in the
arrests of more than 300 islanders, including a number of village
chiefs accused of supporting the people.  Many protesters and a
number of company employees were injured. "The police individuals
bit, kicked and even fired shots at the protesters" Bishop Sol
said.  Police in the provincial capital Ambon have apparently sent
more brigade personnel to the area.
  Bishop Sol has called on the authorities to punish police who had
"tarnished the image of the police force" by beating up the
villagers.
  Yamdena, 320,000 hectares in size, is one of the many tiny
Tanimbar island, where the government has granted PT Alam Nusa
Segar the concession to exploit 164,000 of the 172,000 hectares of
semi-tropical forests.  Yamdena islanders oppose the logging
because they believe the logging will destroy the natural resources
and their land.
  In June, Forestry minister, Hasjrul Harahap, was forced to
postpone logging activities and review the concession under heavy
pressure from the islanders, environmentalists and legislators.
"Obviously the forestry minister favours PT Alam Nusa Segar because
it has not even started the review and done nothing to stop the
logging activities" said Taufik Ganda, spokesman for INFIGHT
(Indonesian Front for the Defence of Human Rights).  INFIGHT
condemns the security forces' harsh actions against the islanders
and blamed the incidents on the company and the government's
ignorance of the people's objections to the logging.
  Joining in the condemnation, the environmental group SKEPHI said
yesterday that the police in Yamdena acted beyond their authority
to secure PT Alam Nusa Segar's interests.  "Communication with the
outside world has been cut and pastors are closely watched because
the police believe they are supporting the dissatisfied people"
SKEPHI spokesman, Indro Tjahyono said.
  In August, 15 community leaders,, local officials and youths from
the island sent a letter to the President's secretary for
development, Solihin GP, stating their objections to the logging.

--

NOTE: An urgent action alert has been produced by SKEPHI about the
Yamdena case asking people to write letters of concern to Minister
for Population and Environment Emil Salim, Minister for Forestry
Hasjrul Harahap and the Consultative Committee on Indonesia (CGI).
Background information and the Urgent Action bulletin on Yamdena is
available from SKEPHI, Tromol Pos 1410, Jakarta 13014, Indonesia
** End of text from cdp:gen.nativenet **

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