On 17 November, a resident witnessed a lorry and three vehicles “stuffed with employed thugs” allegedly on their method to break down homes in Sembulang Tenting – one of many 16 villages in Rempang affected by the deliberate “eco-city” mission – with no prior discover.
“Many have been turned away however most managed to enter,” stated Juan Lee, who just lately moved to the village to help native resistance in opposition to the Rempang eco-city mission that threatens to displace round 7,500 neighborhood members on the island.
Photos taken of the incident by Juan and his companions confirmed that the lorry had a Riau Islands licence plate. He believes that the autos, which seemed to be carrying remnants of a demolished home, have been despatched by Indonesian firm PT Makmur Elok Graha (PT MEG) – a subsidiary of tycoon businessman Tomy Winata’s Artha Graha Group.
When the outsiders within the autos realised that Juan and his companions have been documenting the incident, Juan stated that their automobile was “adopted by screaming thugs on bikes”, who they managed to flee from after a brief chase.
A home in Sembulang Tenting which was allegedly freshly torn down final week. Picture: College students for a Fossil Free Future
On the week of the incident, an area paper reported the pinnacle of public relations of Batam Improvement Company (BP Batam), the entity chargeable for the island’s financial growth, saying that the Rempang eco-city mission had entered “a brand new chapter”.
The federal government official talked about that at this preliminary stage, as many as 44 homes which were “deserted by residents who’ve been relocated” within the Pasir Panjang village shall be demolished.
Eco-Enterprise understands that present residents of Pasir Panjang negotiated to present BP Batam and PT MEG – who’ve a three way partnership to draw Rp 381 trillion (US$24.8 billion) and create jobs for 30,000 staff by 2080 with the Rempang eco-city mission – three days to filter the bought homes.
Nevertheless, Juan stated that Sembulang Tenting was not engaged in related negotiations, regardless of the demolished homes within the village belonging to residents who’ve relocated. “The issue is the violent sudden intrusion with out prior communications,” he stated.
Eco-Enterprise has reached out to each BP Batam and PT MEG for remark. As of press time, a BP Batam consultant has stated that he “can’t present any data” associated to Eco-Enterprise’ queries, whereas PT MEG has not responded.
PT MEG’s settlement to develop Rempang with BP Batam may be traced again to as early 2000s, when it obtained permission to develop a tourism zone overlaying 5,000 hectares, preserving present villages.
However in mid-2023, Rempang’s villagers discovered their roads lined with armed police and enormous navy vans in a state-led compelled eviction, sparking protests attended by hundreds.
In October 2023, official enterprise and authorities plans confirming that Rempang eco-city could be a a lot bigger growth than initially recommended got here to gentle.
The main worldwide investor up to now is Chinese language glass producer Xinyi Glass, which has reportedly pledged US$11.6 billion to construct a quartz sand manufacturing plant. Rempang, which is an hour’s ferry experience from Singapore, is wealthy in silica and quartz sand – uncooked supplies utilized in manufacturing glass and photo voltaic panels.
The neighbouring city-state is about to import 3.4 gigawatts of unpolluted energy from a floating photo voltaic farm in Batam and different tasks in Indonesia’s Riau Islands by 2030.
However Singapore’s Ministry of Commerce and Trade asserted final November, in response to a parliamentary query, that it “is just not conscious of any investments involving Singapore companies or entities within the Rempang eco-city mission in Batam.”
In the meantime, the Indonesian authorities has upgraded Rempang eco-city to a nationwide strategic mission, that means that builders shall be allowed to fast-track land acquisition and administrative processes, together with environmental and social influence assessments.
Civil society teams have stated that these expedited timelines have led to insufficient assessments and consultations with affected communities.
Regardless of the Indonesian Fee on Human Rights and the Indonesian Ombudsman calling out intimidation techniques by PT MEG and BP Batam up to now yr, some locals that Eco-Enterprise spoke to a day earlier than the incident occurred stated that violence and intimidation has continued, although authorities now present up much less ceaselessly.
“Terror and different types of intimidation nonetheless occur. Yesterday, there was an try to bomb the electrical energy station they usually tried to topple the electrical energy poles. Additionally they ripped out the banners rejecting Rempang eco-city,” stated a 49-year-old farmer Nia from Sembulang Pasir Merah, which is among the many six villages which might be nonetheless actively organising.
In September, renewed clashes have been reported between armed guards allegedly employed by PT MEG and residents, which resulted in accidents and a police grievance.
Torn up indicators carrying messages that reject the Rempang eco-city mission. Picture: Gabrielle See/ Eco-Enterprise
Those that have actively spoken out in opposition to the mission have additionally confronted backlash from authorities. Juan informed Eco-Enterprise that he and one other organiser, Juwita, have quickly fled Rempang for his or her security, after listening to that intelligence officers are on the look out for them.
“A couple of thugs and intelligence officers are roaming round Batam looking for Juwita and I. Last night time her store was destroyed and somebody shat on the ground,” stated Juan. One thing related occurred when he just lately moved into his new home in Rempang, the place somebody broke in and defecated in its premises, stated Juan.
However Juan stated that he has no intention to again down. “We won’t cease working within the face of presidency repression, which has solely intensified our anger and our dedication to like each other,” he stated.
