American NGO threatens to sue Minister of Mines and Energy and Police Chief
Thursday, June 29 2000 - 04:30 AM WIB
An American non-governmental organization called Project Underground has threatened to sue Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and National Police Chief Lt. Gen Rusdihardjo over alleged human rights violation against the occupiers of the gold mine of PT Indo Muro Kencana in Central Kalimantan.
The threat was voiced in a letter signed by Shana Langdoni with the address in 1916 A Marthin Luther King Jr. Way Berkeley, CA 94794.
North Barito, Central Kalimantan police chief Lt Col. Sugeng SK confirmed that he had received the letter through a facsimile transmission.
Sugeng, however, said he did not know if the letter sent to his office was an original one or a copy of the letter.
"We don't think it serious because the letter seems to be a mere copy, some kind of a report to the police," he said.
In the letter, Project Underground threatened to sue the minister and police chief over the alleged human rights violations conducted against the Dayak Siang and Dayak Murung tribes people during a sweeping operation at the gold mine of PT Indo Muro Kencana. The operation aimed to evict the people from the gold mine, which they had illegally occupied for more one year.
A team called Moro Batara, comprising among others police officers, formed by the North Barito regency administration, conducted the operation.
Sugeng denied that the team had committed human rights violation
He denied that the team used terror method to evict the occupiers.
He said the local police had detained 15 people as witnesses or potential suspects in the illegal occupation. He denied however that the people were brought into police custody handcuffed. (*)