District chief issues travel ban, prevents environmental trip
District chief issues travel ban, prevents environmental trip
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
Forty subdistrict chiefs in Toba Samosir regency in North Sumatra
have been banned from going to Jakarta to meet the minister of
home affairs, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM) and the House of Representatives to complain about a factory
accused of pollution and rights abuse.
They had intended to lodge a formal protest against the
government's endorsement of controversial pulp and paper mill, PT
Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), previously known as PT Inti Indorayon
Utama, to resume operations in March.
The travel ban letter was officially issued by Lumbanjulu
district chief M. Sitompul on June 3. The letter stated that no
subdistrict chiefs in the district could leave without written
permission from Toba Samosir regent Sahala Tampubolon.
Nagatimbul subdistrict chief Berton Sitorus said on Thursday
that they were also not allowed to raise funds to finance a trip
to Jakarta.
Executive director of the local branch of the Indonesian Forum
for the Environment (Walhi) Herwin Nasution said, "A regent does
not have the right to ban subdistrict chiefs from doing anything.
They will go to Jakarta to deliver their objection to the
operation of TPL."
Herwin said that subdistrict chiefs, accompanied by
environmental activists, were scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on
June 8.
The ban reflects the local administration's clear favoritism
toward the company, he added.
Tarutung police precinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Burhanuddin said
the regent has been in close cooperation with the police to issue
and enforce the travel ban. He also said that the police would
keep a close eye on all subdistrict chiefs to make sure they did
not go to Jakarta.
"The reason for banning their movement is merely due to
security concerns. If all subdistrict chiefs left, who would be
responsible for security in their respective area?" he wondered.
Most local residents have opposed the government's decision to
reinstate TPL's operating license after widespread allegations of
environmental damage as well as rights violations during protests
near the plant, located in Porsea subdistrict.
Two people were shot and killed when local residents rallied
against TPL, a unit of the Radja Garuda Mas business group, four
years ago. In the same year, three Indorayon supporters were
found dead in the Asahan River.
Farmers in Porsea have protested the company for polluting
agricultural land but the company has denied all charges of
environmental destruction.
TPL was allowed to reopen after it promised to further tighten
its environmental controls and improve its community development
programs to enhance relations with local residents.