Komnas HAM probes Porsea abuses

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.