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Government under fire for using excessive force in Rempang
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Riot police stand by during a demonstration by Rempang Island residents at the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) in Batam, Riau Islands on Sept. 11, 2023. The residents oppose the local administration's plan to relocate them to another part of the island for the construction of Rempang Eco City. (Antara/Teguh Priatna)
C
ivil society organizations and religious groups have criticized authorities for their handling of protests by residents against a new eco-city project on Rempang Island in Riau Islands, accusing the government of prioritizing investment over the interests of the people.
Rempang residents have been staging protests against the development plan, spearheaded by PT Makmur Elok Graha, which has partnered with China’s Xinyi Group. The plan will see the construction of a glass-manufacturing center, touted to be the second-largest glass factory in the world.
Apart from the glass factory, the Chinese company is also planning to build a solar panel manufacturing plant on the island.
But the protests against plans to evict hundreds of families living on the island for the eco-city project turned violent amid clashes between residents and security forces. Trees were felled and rioters burned tires and hurled stones and Molotov cocktails in several locations, such as the Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) Bridge on Sept. 7 and the office of the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam), one of the project developers, on Monday.
The police have arrested and named as suspects a total of 43 people for alleged violent offenses during both clashes.
The detainees have reportedly been refused their rights to visitation by attorneys or relatives.
“This action is justified as visits from outside people may lead them to alter their statements during the investigation,” said Barelang Police chief Sr. Comm. Nugroho Tri Nuryanto, as quoted by tempo.co.
