Resilient Indonesian Islanders Unite Against Chinese-backed Factory, Igniting a Battle for Their Homelands

Protests have erupted on Rempang island in the Riau Islands Archipelago, Indonesia, as indigenous islanders vehemently oppose the construction of a Chinese glass factory worth billions of dollars. The planned demolition of their villages has sparked outrage among the local community, adding to a series of ongoing conflicts between indigenous people and the Indonesian authorities characterized by land disputes and forced evictions.

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest country in the world, has been actively seeking Chinese investment. The recent protests have revolved around the proposed construction of a factory, which was announced during a significant meeting in July between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

View of a deforested and burning area of the Amazon rainforest in 2022.

Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images

Indonesia and Brazil have been identified as the main contributors to the destruction of tropical forests due to industrial mining, according to a recent study. In a recent incident on September 11, indigenous communities clashed with riot police in the city of Batam, which is situated on islands near Singapore and is being targeted for significant development.

Around 9 a.m, as many as 1,000 people started gathering outside the Badan Pengusahaan (BP) office, a local organization responsible for urban management and development, according to a statement by BP. The situation turned chaotic, with protesters, including indigenous residents from nearby Rempang island, breaking fences and forcefully entering the compound.

The BP chief, Muhammad Rudi, intervened in an attempt to control the increasingly unruly crowd. However, the situation deteriorated as the crowd started hurling bottles, rocks, and various objects at security officers, according to BP. The violence escalated and spread to nearby areas, including government canteens. In addition to throwing Molotov cocktails, the attackers also assaulted and beat security officials, as stated in the announcement.

Riot police were deployed to the scene and fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters, CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia reported. Dozens were arrested soon after.

Government office buildings were damaged during the protests on September 11.

BP Batam

The second violent protest occurred within a week's time. On September 7, chaos erupted on Rempang island as local authorities and developers arrived for land surveys and measurements. In order to hinder their progress, residents resorted to using fallen trees and burning tires as makeshift barricades, effectively barring officials from accessing the nearby forested areas around their villages.

A local resident in his 60s, who has been living on the island for over twenty years, informed CNN that the community is making every effort to prevent officials from demolishing their homes and is determined to resist. Due to concerns about potential persecution from Indonesian authorities, his identity is being withheld.

According to him, the two choices they have been presented with are either accepting compensation to relocate or facing the possibility of being moved elsewhere against their will. This situation has resulted in significant stress and sorrow for many members of the community.

Tear gas was deployed by BP and local law enforcement to disperse the gathered masses, according to official statements. CNN received reports from eyewitnesses, who revealed that tear gas had inadvertently affected children from neighboring educational institutions due to the close proximity of many schools to the area.

Security officials obstructed by forest barricades.

BP Batam

The Indonesian government officials have pledged to provide better relocation packages for the residents of Rempang, in an effort to ease tensions. Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized the need for a gentle and respectful approach to resolving the issue, especially considering the islanders' longstanding presence on the island.

The welfare of local residents is our priority; however, if the project is delayed, it will result in the loss of potential revenue for local governments and the inability to create job opportunities.

Authorities have announced that affected families will be provided with 500 square meters (5,381 square feet) of land or alternative houses, along with compensation packages amounting to $78 (1.2 million Indonesian Rupiah).

However, critics contend that this is insufficient. According to Arifin Jaynal Ylbhi, the spokesperson for the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), communities face the risk of losing not only their homes and livelihoods but also their culture. Relocation and compensation may hold economic value, but they cannot adequately compensate for the collective memory and identity of the local indigenous people.

"At least 52 residents have been arrested and faced criminal charges. In response, we have dispatched a team of lawyers to offer legal support," he stated.

"The (concerned ministries) must acknowledge and uphold the rights of long-standing inhabitants of Rempang Island. This is substantiated by the presence of historical villages and sites, as well as the availability of documents and scientific research."

Communities at stake

Rempang Island, situated in Indonesia's Riau province, is one of the three primary islands and houses a population of at least 7,500 individuals, predominantly of Malay Indigenous descent. Additionally, the island boasts abundant reserves of quartz sand, crucial for the production of various construction materials, including glass.

Xinyi Glass, one of the largest glass and solar panel manufacturers globally, serves as a supplier to leading automobile companies including Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen. According to officials from the Indonesian government, the establishment of their new factory is expected to generate approximately 35,000 employment opportunities.

"The project has the potential to deliver significant advantages, foster economic expansion, and enhance the well-being of the people in the Riau Islands and across Indonesia," stated Ansar Ahmad, a representative of the Riau government.

According to activists and community organizations, the investment is detrimental to the local environment and indigenous coastal communities, who rely on the sea for their livelihoods through fishing and selling fresh seafood.

Greenpeace Indonesia criticized the project and condemned the alleged use of "excessive force" against indigenous protesters. "We stand with the people of Rempang, who have inhabited the island for centuries," stated campaigner Didit Wicaksono in an interview with CNN.

This picture taken on February 10, 2023 shows a factory of the state-owned Antam mining company in Pomalaa in southeast Sulawesi.

Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images

Metals-rich Indonesia's IPO market is so red-hot it's thrashing Hong Kong and India

Joko Widodo and his government have consistently shown that protecting the environment is not their concern. Their primary focus is on investment, regardless of the consequences. This can be seen in the violent actions of the security forces in Rempang, which exemplify this policy. Achmad Nur Hidayat, an economist and public policy expert from the Veteran National Development University of Jakarta, views the situation in Rempang as a regrettable indication of a larger pattern occurring throughout Indonesia.

The content fragment should be rewritten as follows:

According to him, indigenous tribes have fallen prey to the interests of both business and politics. He acknowledges the significance of investment and development for economic progress; however, he asserts that disregarding human rights ultimately leads to flawed growth.

"We must challenge policymakers and inquire about their intentions and motivations."

West Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia, has been a hotbed of resistance from indigenous communities. Despite being resource-rich, the region remains impoverished. Over the past decade, there has been a separatist movement, which has fostered animosity towards both the government and international mining conglomerates. Additionally, Indonesia's extensive palm oil plantations have caused significant deforestation and have displaced indigenous communities from their ancestral lands, as reported by rights groups.

Survival International, a global NGO advocating for indigenous rights, has stated that the inhabitants of Rempang island possess "rights to their lands" under international law and should not be compelled to forsake their residences and way of life for the economic advantage of others. Senior researcher Sophie Grig emphasized that they are the most proficient custodians of their territories and hold the autonomy to determine their own destinies.

"The protests have unequivocally demonstrated the absence of consent and the strong aversion towards being forcefully displaced from their island. Regardless of the potential employment opportunities it may generate, no Eco City is worth imposing such a profound level of suffering."

The Riau Islands in Indonesia has seen a rapid rise in urban development, driven by Chinese investment and tourism from neighboring Singapore.

PRADEEP87/Getty Images

Development plans for Riau have been underway since 2004 due to its rapid growth. The Indonesian government has expressed its commitment to continue investing in Rempang. According to CNN Indonesia, a group of cabinet members and senior police officers from Jakarta recently visited the island and conducted private meetings.

Investment Minister Bahlil stated on Monday that there have been approximately 700 families identified to be impacted by the construction plans. However, for certain residents, relocating from their villages remains an unfavorable choice.

"The government has made their decision," expressed a woman in her seventies, residing in a coastal village house with her son and grandchildren, a dwelling originally erected by her grandparents.

"It appears that money and investments hold greater significance, disregarding the value of our rights."

Additional reporting by Carina Cheng in Hong Kong.