REMPANG, Indonesia: Mdm Zaitun, 81, a member of the indigenous Malay tribe on Rempang island, has been restless for the past couple of weeks.
“I’m sad. It’s like my heart is being cut,” the great-grandmother of five told CNA. “I want to cry, but I’ve run out of tears.”Mdm Zaitun refuses to leave her village on Rempang Island. The case has sparked criticism of how the government evicts villagers, mostly indigenous people, in the name of economic development and projects.
Some were approached by officers who did not clearly identify themselves, while some heard it through word of mouth, said villager Mdm Saerah, 63, who goes by one name. However, since many are resistant, the government has decided to do its best to convince them until the islanders agree to be relocated, Mayor of Batam Muhammad Rudi, who is also the head of BP Batam, told CNA.
She said she has many other questions, and that the government's answers have been inadequate and inconsistent. He added that the investor and the government have agreed on the location and the project's timeline. Such projects are designated as they are deemed important for the country’s development, and the government has the authority to seize land for them.
The andesites would be used to construct a dam about 12 km from the site, but some locals oppose it, believing it will destroy the environment.Mr Usman Hamid, Indonesia director of Amnesty International, said National Strategic Projects are the roots of widespread human rights violations problems in Indonesia.