Batam – Residents on Rempang Island from the Sembulang Village in Galang sub-district, Batam City, Riau Islands, claim to have been terrorised by unidentified individuals (OTK).
The residents were terrorised by people who set fire to a large banner reading "Reject the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN)" that had been installed by residents on the cliffs above their village.
And it was not just the banner. The residents also revealed that unknown individuals set fire to the state electricity company (PLN) main relay station used to illuminate the residents' village.
"The incidents involving the burning of the banner and the burning of the main electricity pole occurred on Friday night, August 20, and were discovered by residents on Saturday August 31", said Nia, a resident of Sembulang Village at Red Sand Beach when sought for confirmation on Sunday September 1.
Nia emphasised that the residents would never be cowed by intimidation, terror and threats from any party.
"But remember, we know who set fire to them, remember that the Rempang community will act in accordance with the law of the jungle, there is no other law through the police or whatever, we will use the law of the jungle", said Nia.
Following the incident, residents from a number of Rempang Island villages continued to hold actions at the Buluh River intersection to oppose the Rempang Eco City project.
They are also refusing to be moved to a different location in Tanjung Banon. Residents are also asking Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) security personnel, who have built a coordination post (posko) in their village, to leave because they can maintain their own security.
"We Rempang residents who have gathered here from Long Sands, from the Buluh River, from the Raya River, Cate, Melayu Beach, Sembulang Hulu, Sembulang Tanjung, Sembulang Red Sands, strongly reject the establishment of a posko by BP Batam. We here already have our own posko", said Miswandi, a resident of Sembulang Hulu when sought separately for confirmation.
Earlier, Rempang Island residents said they could not forgive President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. This was in response to an apology made by Widodo during his state of the nation address at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on Friday August 16.
Widodo conveyed an apology for the mistakes he has made while serving as President of the Republic of Indonesia. According to Widodo, he has tried to give the best, even though it could not please everyone.
Sembulang Village residents believe that Widodo's apology was not enough, even if it is conveyed a thousand times.
They believe that Widodo has made Rempang residents suffer. Their families have been divided and they have been evicted from their villages to make way for the Rempang Eco City project.
"Sorry isn't enough, he and his cronies must be destroyed like our broken hearts, our divided families, our villages that they attack and all the forms of intimidation. A thousand words of apology would not be enough", Sembulang Village resident Marsita told CNN Indonesia on August 16. (arp/DAL)
- Jokowi's apology not enough, even if conveyed a thousand times say Rempang residents. CNN Indonesia – August 16, 2024
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was " Warga Pulau Rempang Diteror, Spanduk Tolak PSN dan Gardu PLN Dibakar".]
