The Indonesian Forum for the Environment’s (Walhi) North Sumatra chapter director, Dana Prima Tarigan, said Golfrid’s cause of death was still unknown.

“The police should investigate the case transparently, so as to avoid public speculation [and] also to give a sense of security to human rights activists and civilians in North Sumatra,” Dana told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Golfried lost contact with his family on Wednesday, and the next day, he was found severely injured on the side of the Simpang Pos Padang Bulan overpass in Medan. He died at a hospital on Sunday from his injuries.

Deli Tua Police in Deli Serdang regency, who are handling the case, previously claimed that Golfried had been a victim of a traffic accident.

The activist's relatives, however, refuted the report as Golfried’s motorcycle had been found without any damage to it.

"His head bore serious injuries as if it had been struck with a blunt object. His body oddly remained clean," Walhi North Sumatra staffer Roy Lumbangaol said on Monday.

Roy further said that Golfrid's skull had been fractured, requiring him to undergo surgery at Adam Malik Hospital on Friday. He died two days later.

Walhi North Sumatra argued that what happened to Golfrid was a murder attempt, considering his past activities of defending victims of human rights violations, particularly in environmental issues.

"We urge police to immediately and transparently discover the cause of his death, so as to avoid speculation," Dana said.

Deli Tua Police chief Comr. Elfianto said the police were investigating the case following reports from the victim's family.

"The victim's body will undergo an autopsy today," he said separately on Monday.

There have many been cases of intimidation and prosecution against activists across the archipelago, particularly those focusing on environmental issues.

Environmentalist Heri “Budi Pego” Budiawan, for example, was arrested for allegedly promoting communism while he was campaigning against a gold mine in Banyuwangi, East Java, last year.

Meanwhile, a palm oil company filed a lawsuit against Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) forestry expert Bambang Hero Saharjo last year for testifying as an expert witness for the Environment and Forestry Ministry in a forest fire case against PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa (JJP). The Supreme Court found the company guilty of causing wildfires in Riau in 2015 and ordered it to pay Rp 491 billion (US$32 million) in restitution. JJP later withdrew its lawsuit against Bambang.

Environmentalists decried the lawsuit as an act of retaliation and the company’s attempt to intimidate the expert witnesses.

In Sukoharjo, Central Java, seven activists and residents were arrested and sentenced for hate speech and vandalism initially after protesting against a foul smell allegedly coming from a synthetic fiber factory. (vny)

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