This is an abstract of an open letter issued by FORUM-ASIA to the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 7 January. The letter raises the issue of excessive force used by Indonesian Police to evict the Sakal indigenous people from their tanah ulayat in Suluk Bongkal, Riau Province.

This is an abstract of an open letter issued by FORUM-ASIA to the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 7 January. The letter raises the issue of excessive force used by Indonesian Police to evict the Sakal indigenous people from their tanah ulayat in Suluk Bongkal, Riau Province. Further details of the letter can be found HERE (please click) .

FORUM-ASIA has received disturbing reports on an attack against the Sakal indigenous people of Dusun Suluk Bongkal, Beringin Village, Sub-District Pinggir, Bengkalis, Riau on December 18, 2008 allegedly by armed civilian groups (known as pamswakarsa)hired by PT Arara Abadi, one of the world's biggest paper producers and part of the giant Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas Group.
 
The attack led to the death of two children, burning of homes, destruction of farms, injuries to two villagers and the arrest of about 200 more.
 
FORUM-ASIA calls on the Indonesian government to immediately release the 200 detained activists and villagers, withdraw police and "civilian security" forces (reportedly up to a total 1500 people), as well as the heavy equipments from the area, to enable the villagers to go back to their village and guarantee their peaceful return.
 
The National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia (KOMNAS HAM) conducted a fact-finding mission based on the complaint filed with them on intimidation and violent acts by PT Arara Abadi to 10 Sakal indigenous villages in the regencies of Bengkalis and Siap in March 2008.
 
The investigation concluded that "the Sakal people had lost their right to live peacefully and safely because of the company's continual intimidation".
 
Further, KOMNAS HAM found indication of human rights violations in relation to the conflict between the people and PT Arara Abadi in three subdistricts. KOMNAS HAM has recommended the government of Indonesia to review the forest concession of PT Arara Abadi for the exclusion of the village from the concession area but before the process of rule of law could be implemented, the police conducted the eviction
 
FORUM-ASIA is very concerned with this long standing conflict between the people and PT Arara Abadi without intervention and the protection from the State on Sakal indigenous people' human rights. On the contrary, the government of Indonesia supported PT Arara Abadi to evict Sakal indigenous people from their tanah ulayat, rather than following up KOMNAS HAM's recommendation.
 
In view of the above, FORUM-ASIA calls for the unconditional release of the 200 detained activists and villagers, and the withdrawal of police and  "civilian security" forces as well as heavy equipments from the area without further delay.
 
The Indonesian government must ensure that Sakal indigenous people and villagers can return to their village safely. We also demand for comprehensive investigation on the incident on December 18, 2008 to address the following issues:
 
1.  The culpability of the regional police commander of Riau province and other officers, invidual police personnel, armed civilian members, the PT Arara Abadi, and civilians who supported the police operations, and bring to court those who are guilty.
 
2.  The use of excessive force, including helicopters and incendiary weapons against the Sakal people; this includes the return of the helicopters on the 19 December 2008 to pelter the displaced people with stones.
 
3.  The use of the state security apparatus in protecting and enforcing corporate interests in violation of citizens' legitimate grievances, including the use of company assets for such so-called police operations,
 
4.  The right of the Sakal tribe to their tanah ulayat and the peasants to their land.
 
5.  The status of the concession granted to PT Arara Abadi , as a follow-up to the KOMNAS HAM recommendations, and the legality of the eviction vis-a-vis the rights of the people to their land with the view of restituting  the Sakal indigenous peoples' customary land/forest rights and the peasants' right to their land,
 
6.  The rehabilitation of the destroyed villages, including the homes, and provision of compensation for all losses including farming tools and  lands.