On December 24, 2011, the Indonesian National Police and Military opened fire on civilians, members of Anti-Mining People’s Front (FRAT) during a peaceful protest at the Sape Harbor which started four days ago. Those civilians rejected the presence of a gold mine, PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN). 3 people died and 9 people were critically injured. This marked as the peak of conflict between the government and business corporations against citizens throughout the year of 2011.

Joint Press Release, December 24, 2011

SBY-BOEDIONO MUST TAKE RESPONSIBLITY
 
The Indonesian National Police and Military again conducted violence and massacre. On December 24, 2011, they opened fire on civilians, members of Anti-Mining People’s Front (FRAT) during a peaceful protest at the Sape Harbor which started four days ago. Those civilians rejected the presence of a gold mine, PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN). The government deployed troops of Brimob (Mobile Brigade) and riot equipments which shot at the protesters this morning. 3 people died and 9 people were critically injured. This marked as the peak of conflict between the government and business corporations against citizens throughout the year of 2011.

Rejection on PT. SMN by the people of Lambu, Bima, has taken place for the last two years. PT. SMN got the Mining Business Permit (IUP) for 25 years in 2008, which then updated by Bima Administration with IUP number 188/45/357/004/2010, which stated PT. SMN’s covered area of 24.980 hectares in the district of Lambu, Sape, and Langgudu with company’s covering area of 14.318 hectares.

Indo Mineral Cipta Persada which operates in the district of Parado, based on the central government permission. The majority stakes of PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara were owned by PT. Arc Exploration Ltd. of Australia.

FRAT conveyed rejection because the gold mine would endanger the livelihood of civilians. Most of Lambu residents are farmers and fishermen. The mine will dismantle the land and disrupt water resources which certainly affect residents’ agricultural lands. Besides, the company had never done dissemination to the public before.

Since then, the citizens, who are members of the Anti-Mining People’s Front (FRAT), continued the acts of rejection. Last January, about 1500 people came to act upon refusal to the sub district office. Unfortunately, they did not get any satisfactory response. The next month, on February 2011, thousands of residents carried out a 1.24 miles long march to Lambu’s sub district office.

The government deployed 250 personnel of Bima’s police, 60 personnel of combined intelligence and crime investigation, and 60 personnel of Provincial NTB’s Brimob. The meeting had no results. The unsatisfactory residents pushed the door of Lambu’s sub district office, answered back by tear gas, rubber bullets, and suspected, live ammunitions. Hundreds of thugs organized by district officials provoked the residents. Clashes were inevitable. Not stopping there, Police chased and arrested five residents and locked them in the Police Station of Bima. There were some victims. M. Nasir (23) shot at the leg bone, allegedly by live ammunition. On November 2011, over one thousand residents returned to carry out actions in front of Bima Regional House of Representatives demanded the same thing.

Residents reported to The National Human Rights Commission, which then conducted an investigation on April 2011. On November 2011, The National Human Rights Commission issued a recommendation No. 2.784/K/PMT/XI/2011 for The Regent of Bima, The West Nusa Tenggara Chief of Police, and The Director of PT. SMN. The National Human Rights Commission recommended The Regent of Bima to improve the information system and publicize mining activities; started from exploration to exploitation, and also to suspend the activities of PT. SMN while waiting for the conduciveness of society’s social life. The West Nusa Tenggara Chief of Police was asked to take coordinative and communicative steps with all elements of government and community leaders to prevent horizontal conflicts in Bima. The National Human Rights Commission urged the warranty for residents’ freedom of speech or aspiration (demonstration) in accordance with statutory provisions, and to avoid repressive measures by using weapons with live ammunition in securing rallies. 

But the officials did just the opposite. Peaceful actions conducted since December 21, 2011 was terminated with violence and massacre. There were 3 people died and 8 people wounded. Arif Rahman (19) was shot through the right arm to the armpit; Syaepul (17) was penetrated by the bullet at the chest, and Ansyari (20). Nine people injured are Sahabudin (31), Ilyas Sulaiman (25), Ibrahim (25), Awaludin (24), Suhaimi (23), Mistahudin (18), and Hasanan (female, 39) and two others can not be identified.

Throughout the year of 2011, the violence conducted by the government and the police force against the peasants increased. WALHI recorded 103 cases of conflicts over natural resources sectors. From Sorikmas in North Sumatera, Tiaka in Central Sulawesi, Mesuji, Senyarang case, Teluk Meranti case in Padang Island; to the massacre in Lambu towards Christmas. Not to mention the potential of similar cases in the future.

President SBY and Boediono must take responsibility for the terrible management of agrarian and natural resources, which was resolved using approaches of crime on humanity. Therefore we demand:

1.      1.  President SBY to immediately issue an official order to stop and revoke the Mining Permit of PT. Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN) and stop the violence and massacre in Bima.

2.      2.  President SBY to immediately issue an official order to withdraw and evaluate all forces of Indonesian National Police and Military at the location of natural resource conflicts.

3.     3.  President SBY to immediately stop the company’s activities which created and potentially create conflicts until the certainty of settlement is structurally created by establishing the National Committee for Resolution of Agrarian Conflicts and Natural Resources.

4.     4.  The House of Representatives to immediately make use of the right of interpellation to request President SBY’s responsibility for serious violation of human rights in the agrarian sector and natural resources.

5.      5.  President SBY to immediately dismiss and replace Timor Pradopo, Indonesian Chief of Police.

6.       6. The National Human Rights Commission and Witness and Victims Protection Agency (LPSK) to ensure legal protection for victims, as the indication of violence will spill over in the future.

7.      7. Urging the Constitutional Court to immediately decide the civil citizen lawsuit on Law No. 4 Year 2009 on Mineral and Coal, and demanding abolishment of articles that criminalizing citizens.

With regards,                                          

WALHI, JATAM,  AGRA, KPA, YLBHI, Repdem, Sawit Watch, Koalisi Anti Utang, HMI MPO, IGJ, Formada NTT/ JPIC OFM, LIMA, PMKRI, DPP IMM, LMND, Srikandi Demokrasi, KIARA, PWYP

 

Media Contacts:

Mukri  Fitriana, WALHI, mobile 081288244445

Andre S Wijaya, JATAM, mobile 08129459623

Lamens, EN LMND, mobile 085658984846

Noted;
1. the company owned by Australian  (95%)
http://www.arcexploration.com.au/IRM/content/home.html

2. This case not only one, 2 weeks ago we just against Slaugthering in Mesuji, Lampung Province and South Sumatera. The villagers against Oil Palm and Pulp wood plantation