Komnas HAM probes Porsea abuses

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) visited Porsea regency, North Sumatra, on Tuesday to listen to complaints against PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) and to verify alleged rights violations there.

The visit was the first by the rights body since the plant became a matter of public controversy in 1999.

During the visit, four members of the commission -- Hasto Atmojo, Syamsuddin, Koesparmono Irsan and Triyanto -- met with local residents to hear their complaints about police repression in handling a series of mass protests against the company.

According to Joni Sitompul, an activist from the local branch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), at least two people were killed when locals staged protests against TPL four years ago. The two victims were Hermanto, a high school student, and Panuju Manurung. Are the three Manurungs related? If so, say what is the relationship. If not, please write "(no relation)" after the second and third.

Winner Manurung, a 13-year old boy, also told the delegation that he had been hit by Brimob (Mobile Brigade) police in January 2003 after they had accused him of planting nails along a road leading to the TPL plant.

Another local, Minah Manurung, reported the killing of her son Hermanto in 2001 after a security officer allegedly shot him dead.

"My son was killed by a stray police bullet. I want Komnas HAM to investigate the case and punish those responsible for the incident," Minah said.

Minah said her son was playing with his friends when police violently dispersed a mass protest that was demanding the closure of TPL.

Komnas HAM member Syamsuddin, meanwhile, told local residents that the commission could not immediately conclude that there were violations of human rights in those incidents.

"We have to investigate these cases in more detail," he said.

TPL's operations were suspended in 1999 during the leadership of former president B.J. Habibie, in response to vociferous protests by locals.

Local residents have alleged that acid rain caused by the operations of TPL had drastically reduced the harvest of rice and other crops, while toxic gases released by the company were causing respiratory problems.

In 2000, the government gave TPL permission to resume its pulp operations. However, the company was not allowed to resume its rayon operations, in the hope that this would substantially reduce pollution.

Last month, four Cabinet ministers issued a joint decree allowing TPL to resume operations immediately. The company said that it would reopen in March.

The Komnas HAM team is also scheduled to hold a meeting with North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin on Thursday to discuss the issues.