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Mining industry

Justice Delayed: Indigenous Community Demands Accountability for Murdered Elder in Indonesia

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Indigenous Dayak community in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is still seeking justice and accountability for the murder of elder Rusel, whose throat was cut while guarding a road checkpoint in Muara Kate. Although police have questioned staff from coal miner PT Mantimin Coal Mining and interviewed 36 witnesses, no suspect has been named, and tensions in the community remain high due to the presence of heavy coal trucks. The community has been blockading access to coal trucks, citing government regulations that restrict roads passable by extractive and plantation industry logistics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The murder of Rusel, a 59-year-old Dayak elder, occurred on November 15, 2024, while he was guarding a road checkpoint in Muara Kate, East Kalimantan.
  • The incident has sparked tensions in the community, with many blaming the coal industry for the murder.
  • Police have questioned staff from coal miner PT Mantimin Coal Mining but have yet to name any suspects.
  • The community has blockaded access to coal trucks, citing government regulations that restrict roads passable by extractive and plantation industry logistics.
  • The East Kalimantan province police chief, Endar Priantoro, has stated that prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for the suspect in the death of Veronika, a trainee pastor who was killed in an accident with a coal truck last year.
  • The case has been ongoing for over eight months, with the community demanding justice and accountability for the murder.
  • PT Mantimin Coal Mining has been linked to the 2018 Mongabay report on Indigenous Dayak opposition to the company's operations in the area.
  • The company's activities have been found to be in violation of a 2012 regulation enacted by the East Kalimantan provincial government meant to restrict roads passable by extractive and plantation industry logistics.

Statistics:

  • Indonesia produced 831 million metric tons of thermal coal in 2024, an all-time high.
  • The 2018 Mongabay report on Indigenous Dayak opposition to MCM operating in the area near Muara Kate disclosed that the company was majority-owned by a notorious Indian infrastructure development group.
  • MCM received an exploration permit in 2008, which enabled the Indonesian owners of the company to flip it to PT Bangun Asia Persada (BAP), a holding company registered to a small apartment on a thoroughfare in downtown Jakarta.
  • The case continues, with the chief detective of the Paser district police saying officers have questioned local organizations involved in coal hauling, as well as staff from MCM.

Sources:

  • Mongabay (2024) - "Indigenous Dayak community makes strides on Borneo toward forest autonomy"
  • Kompas (2023) - "Penyerangan pos jaga hauling di Paser, satu warga tewas, polisi selidiki kasus"
  • Indonesian daily Kompas (2023) - "Penyerangan pos jaga hauling di Paser, satu warga tewas, polisi selidiki kasus"
  • Balikpapan (2023) - "Tragedi Berdarah Muara Kate, Tokoh Dayak Keluarkan Pernyataan Sikap"
  • IL&FS website (2023) - "Resolving India's Biggest Financial Crisis"
  • IL&FS prospectus (2023) - "ITPCL EOI.pdf"
  • Hasnur Group website (2023) - "solidarity demonstration"

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