Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition insists that the emergence of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan's name in a video discussion between Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti was based on research and investigation data.
The video of the discussion – which was broadcast on YouTube – was based on a report by nine non-government organisations and titled "The Political Economy of the Placement of the Military in Papua: The Intan Jaya Case".
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Director Muhammad Usnur explained that the research was conducted by the YLBHI together with the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) National Executive, the People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka), the Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Papua), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam), Greenpeace Indonesia and Trend Asia along with #BersihkanIndonesia (#CleanUpIndonesia).
The results of the research showed a correlation between the deployment of the military in Papua and mining company concessions there. And the results of an examination of the dossiers or company deeds found the alleged involvement of retired military and police officers and even generals who are still active.
"And when the company deeds were investigated further it revealed the names of generals including revealing the name of Luhut Binsar Panjaitan", said Isnur during a virtual press conference on Wednesday March 23.
"In the block there was indeed a very strong correlation with a company where he was included in the company deeds where as the owner of the Tobacom Del Mandiri he is recorded as a shareholder of Tambang Raya Sejahtera", he added.
Still based on the research, Isnur said that Pandjaitan was also involved in efforts to resolving a problem with West Wits Mining which had a Not Clear status which was later changed to a Clear and Clean status.
According to Isnur, the change in the company's status occurred when Pandjaitan held the post of acting State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources (Menteri ESDM), when Minister Arcandra Tahar was caught up in problems related to his citizenship status. Because of this, it is alleged that there was a conflict of interest by what was done by Pandjaitan.
"He held two posts, Menko Marves and then Menteri ESDM at a time close to the change in status or change in the condition of West Wits from Not Clear and Clean to then getting the status Clear and Clean in 2017", said Isnur.
Isnur also asserted that all of the findings in the research are based on documents which were obtained legally and through official channels.
"And that is undeniable and in the context of criminal law is not a crime. It represents part of the rights and obligations of citizens to participate in the context of human rights", he said.
Isnur explained that Kontras Coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti was indeed selected as a speaker in the YouTube video based on an agreement between the nine organisations involved in the research.
The aim was so that the research results could be more easily understood rather than having them read as a piece of research.
Azhar and Maulidiyanti were declared suspects on charges of alleged defamation based on a report submitted earlier by Pandjaitan with the Metro Jaya regional police.
They were reported over the content of a video titled "There is Lord Luhut behind the Economic Relations-Military Operations in Intan Jaya!! There are also State Intelligence Agency Generals!!". The video was uploaded on Azhar's YouTube account. (dis/bmw)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Koalisi Sipil Tegaskan Haris-Fatia Bicarakan Luhut Didasari Data".]
