Tanjung Pinang – Rempang Island residents in Galang subdistrict, Batam City, Riau Islands, again held a protest action rejecting their relocation to make way for the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN) on Sunday afternoon, August 18.
The action opposing the relocation involved various activities such as a parade circling the area using a pickup track and bringing agricultural products from Sembulang to the Raya River intersection.
In addition to this, the participants also gave speeches, held a martial arts exhibition and read out pantun (old poetry consisting of four lines each) opposing the Eco City project. There was even a housewife who was sobbing because of the sadness she felt at the government wanting to take the land belonging to her ancestors.
"Don't take our land, Pak [Sir]. Don't take my land, Pak, my ancestral land, Pak. Where am I to live, Pak. My children want to go to school, don't take it away Pak", pleaded Nora, a resident from Red Sand Beach.
Roziana, a resident of the same village, said she will continue to oppose the Eco City project because the land is customary village land and the land of her ancestors that must be safeguarded.
She added that this year the residents did not celebrate Indonesia's 79th anniversary of independence on August 17 with activities such as traditional games because they feel that they are not yet independent.
They feel their villages are not safe from the accomplices of the government who want to seize Rempang Island for the sake of the Rempang Eco City.
"Only this year are we not celebrating August 17 because for us we're not yet independent. Our village is currently not safe because irresponsible parties still want to seize it", said Roziana.
The protest action rejecting the project was also attended by hundreds of residents on Rempang Island who are spread across 16 points of the old village. These include, among others, the villages of Sembulang, Pasir Panjang, Blongkeng, Rempang Cate and Tanjung Kertang.
Residents from Tanjung Kelengking, Melayu Beach, Raya River, Hulu Buton, Monggak, Tanjung Colem, Kalat Beach, Bamboo River, Six Kitchen, Tanjung Banon and Red Sand Beach also took part in the action.
"My hope is, for the government to please listen to our heartfelt grievances as little people because who else can we complain to. We feel safe and secure in our homes, peaceful, calm. Don't disrupt us, let us live here with our children, our mothers, our ancestors. Don't take the land of our birth", begged Roziana. (arp/pra)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Warga Pulau Rempang Menangis, Tolak PSN Rempang Eco City".]
