Yogi Eka Sahputra, Zacharias Wuragil, Batam – The Riau chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) regrets the move by the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) which is allegedly involving the TNI (Indonesian Military) in pushing through the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN).
This move by BP Batam is considered to have the potential to worsen the situation in Rempang Island, which has been marked by several incidents of violence between project developer PT Makmur Elok Graha (PT MEG) and the police and local residents who reject the project.
The involvement of the TNI was revealed from a meeting between BP Batam and the 033 Wira Pratama Sub-Regional Military Command (Korem) on Monday January 13. In a BP Batam press release, it stated that the meeting in the BP Batam Marketing Centre meeting room was aimed at discussing the progress of the development of the Rempang Eco City project.
Several important points were discussed including the preparation of basic infrastructure in the Tanjung Banon area and the construction of new houses for residents affected by the second phase of the Rempang Eco City development.
BP Batam and the Korem 033 also discussed a plan for cooperation on food security programs in order to support the government's free nutritious meal (MBG) program. BP Batam also involved MEG, the company that was given the concession to manage the Rempang Eco City project, in the meeting.
BP Batam Area Management and Investment Division member Sudirman Saad said that in principle BP Batam together with Korem 033 are synergised in supporting efforts to accelerate the Rempang Eco City development as a PSN. Saad revealed that BP Batam will construct 178 new housing units for affected residents throughout 2025.
BP Batam will also build government offices, a Sub-District Military Command (Koramil) and schools at all levels. "The development will continue to take place in stages. This is our commitment to completing the investment plan in the Rempang Area", he said in the press release.
Walhi Riau Climate Justice Campaign and Mainstreaming Manager Ahlul Fadli said that the involvement of Korem 003 in the Eco City project shows how the state continues to use a militaristic approach in implementing PSN policies. According to Fadil, the government should re-evaluate the Rempang Eco City project and abandon a violent approach so that no more people fall victim.
"We deeply regret the actions of BP Batam which insists on continuing the construction of the Rempang Eco City PSN amidst the situation in Rempang which is still not conducive following the violent incident by PT MEG last December", said Fadli, referring to a clash between Rempang residents and PT MEG workers on December 18.
Fadil also reminded the government that any development policy including PSN must fulfil the principle of prior and free informed consent or an approval from affected communities. Meanwhile he believes that BP Batam has still not been willing to be open about the data on the relocation recipients which are believed to be inconsistent with data on the ground.
"Not only that, to this day BP Batam still has not got an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) document which it should have had before the project was carried out", he said.
In addition to criticising the involvement of Korem in continuing the Rempang Eco City project, Fadil also questioned the relationship between PT MEG and the food security project that will be worked on by BP Batam and Korem. Fadil said that to meet food needs that can support the free nutritious meal program, Korem should work with the Rempang community who have clearly had agricultural and plantation products for years. "Why with PT MEG?", he asked.
Furthermore, Fadil mentioned a statement by President Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Daily Chairperson Sufmi Dasco Ahmad on Prabowo's plan to re-evaluate PSNs. According to Walhi Riau, the Rempang Eco-City project is one of the PSNs that must be re-evaluated. The reason being that the project is not beneficial for the community because it will eliminate the identity and source of livelihood of thousands of Rempang residents.
"On the other hand, the opposition [to the project] from the Rempang community will not stop until this PSN is stopped or revoked", he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Walhi Sayangkan Pelibatan Militer untuk Percepatan PSN di Rempang".]
