The Indonesia Environmental Association (Wahli) is seeking protection under the law for the human rights for activists working to protect the Nation’s environment.
Wahli Calls for Protection of Environmental Activists in Indonesia
(1/4/2015)
The Indonesia Environmental Association (Wahli) is seeking protection under the law for the human rights for activists working to protect the Nation’s environment.
As reported by Suara Pembaruan, the executive director of Walhi, Bejo Dewangga, said the need for protection for environmental activists forms one of three recommendations to the Government by his organization at the close of 2014 in response to a commitment made by the Government to end the criminalization of environmental activism, while, at the same time, reviewing all permits and policies connected with the exploitation of natural resources
Dewanga said that mining, plantation agriculture, reforestation projects, reclamation and extractive industries need to be urgently reviewed in Lampung (South Sumatra), Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and Bali. Adding, “There is a great deal of manipulation and non-transparency in the administration of these policies that threatens the environment.”
Dewangga complained that there are many efforts to criminalize and arrest environmentalist activists who have opposed these projects. Citing an example, He said that many activists opposed to the reclamation of Benoa Bay in Bali have been terrorized and criminalized.
According to Walhi, activists across Indonesia have experienced similar treatment for their opposition to environmental exploitation.
Wahli has recorded 147 cases of violence against environmental activists in 2012, 227 cases in 2013 and hundreds of cases in 2014.