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.