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50,000 sign petition for murdered anti-mining activist
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A petition for murdered activist Salim Kancil has been supported by 50,000 people and Rp 42 million (US$3,138) has been raised for his child's education.
According to a joint press release from change.org and kitabisa.com, the petition and fundraising were initiated by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in coordination with the Women and Mining Working Team (TKPT) following a deadly assault that claimed the life of Salim, or Kancil, on Sept. 26.
The 52-year-old villager was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people in Selok Awar-Awar subdistrict, Pasirian district, Lumajang regency, East Java. The same group also allegedly assaulted Tosan, 51, another villager, leaving him in a critical condition.
Three days before the incident, the two victims, along with dozens of fellow villagers, staged a rally to protest against sand-quarrying on Watu Pecak Beach, also in Selok Awar-Awar subdistrict. The protesters claimed that the mining damaged the environment, leaving holes 5 meters in diameter and a meter deep on the beach. The protest halted the quarrying and blocked dozens of trucks from transporting sand.
Initially the target amount for the fundraising was Rp 20 million, but strong solidarity from netizens boosted the fund to Rp 42 million on Monday.
"An outstanding achievement, which exceed our expectations. This transboundary solidarity is what makes the fighting spirit live on," said Walhi's representative, Voni, as quoted by Antara news agency.
The fund will be given as scholarships to Salim and Tosan's children. Salim had one child currently studying at junior high school, while Tosan had three children, one at elementary school and one at high school.
Another petition, titled "Mr. Badrodin, please investigate the murder of Salim Kancil", has also received support from more than 50,000 people. It was addressed to the National Police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, the Lumajang regency administration, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the Indonesian Commission on Child Protection (KPAI). (kes)
