Suspicious Death of Environmental Human Rights Activist Golfrid Siregar

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
1111 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133

Re: Suspicious Death of Environmental Human Rights Activist Golfrid Siregar

Dear Consul General Simon D.I Soekarno:

We represent 240 civil society organizations writing in regards to Golfrid Siregar, an Indonesian environmental lawyer who died on October 6, 2019, under suspicious circumstances. On October 3, 2019, Golfrid Siregar was found beaten and abandoned on the side of a road in Medan. Although police claim his death was the result of a traffic accident, there are a number of irregularities and suspicious circumstances which suggest his death may have occurred as retaliation for his environmental and human rights advocacy work, thus warranting immediate further investigation.

We believe that environmental human rights defenders represent a country’s best and brightest – these are the individuals who put their lives on the line to make their country more fair, more safe, more just. As such, we stand with the Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights Defenders Protection in urgently calling on the Indonesian government to immediately launch an independent, thorough investigation of Golfrid Siregar’s death. Failing to do so would suggest the Indonesian government’s ambivalence to the serious life and death struggles facing its own people.

Suspicious Circumstances

The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights Defenders Protection^[1] has observed troubling irregularities, which suggest that Golfrid Siregar’s injuries were not caused by an ordinary traffic accident^[2]. First, he suffered primarily from serious head injuries which caused his cranium to break, while the rest of his body remained largely uninjured. Second, family and friends reported that there were bruises to his right eye as if from a hard, direct blow. Third, mud and wet soil were found on his clothes, even though the area where he was found is paved, with no soil nearby. Fourth, his personal belongings, bag, laptop, wallet, phone, and ring were missing. Fifth, his motorcycle was mostly undamaged, and not reflective of being in a serious, fatal traffic accident^[3]. It should also be noted that there were no bloodstains where he was found; his clothes were undamaged and did not show signs of Golfrid falling off the motorcycle.

Golfrid Siregar’s Life’s Work to Promote Environmental Protection and Human Rights

These suspicious circumstances are more troubling when seen in the context of Golfrid Siregar’s life’s work to promote human rights and environmental protection. Since 2016, Golfrid Siregar worked as Legal Manager at WALHI North Sumatra, where he advocated on behalf of local communities on a variety of cases involving illegal logging, mining, and forest encroachment, among others. One of his more recent cases involved a lawsuit against PT NSHE, the developer for the controversial Batang Toru Hydrodam in North Sumatra. Filed by WALHI North Sumatra, the lawsuit claimed that the company violated at least three Indonesian laws related to project permitting, good governance, and procedural flaws. He was also involved in exposing an expert’s forged signature in the project’s AMDAL (environmental impact assessment). Golfrid Siregar was extremely active in this case, and also filed a complaint with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in regards to potential embezzlement and corruption between the project developer PT NSHE and local government.

In August and September of this year, he was in communication with the Investigation Supervision Role (Wassidik) and Professional and Security Division (Propam) at Indonesian Police Headquarters (Mabes POLRI) after submitting a report on concerning behavior of the Regional Police North Sumatra investigator. Forgery is a criminal offense, and so the forged signature in the Batang Toru Hydrodam was previously reported to the Regional Police. Golfrid’s report to Indonesian Police Headquarters (Mabes POLRI) raised concerns about the Regional Police of North Sumatra’s sudden issuance of a Termination Letter of Investigation (SP3), which essentially ended regional police investigation of forgery in Batang Toru Hydrodam’s AMDAL. In September, he was invited by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) Mabes POLRI to provide additional clarification to his report about the Regional Police's Termination of Investigation (SP3), but requested to reschedule due to work responsibilities in Medan.

It should be noted that the Batang Toru Hydropower project has attracted controversy for not only its environmental, social, and biodiversity issues, but for the suspicious activities associated with the project developer PT NSHE. Scientific experts have been fired for speaking out against the project^[4]; local environmental organizers report harassment, intimidation, and being followed by company hired men; and just recently, the Indonesian expert who testified that his signature was forged in the AMDAL for the Batang Toru Hydrodam project has been accused of defamation^[5].

Our Request to the Indonesian Government, in Solidarity with Indonesian Civil Society

Within this context, Golfrid Siregar’s death is extremely suspicious, and it is not unreasonable to draw uncomfortable connections between his work as an environmental human rights defender and his tragic death. In light of this, we stand with Indonesian civil society organizations^[6] in calling on the Indonesian state government to urgently take the following actions:

1. Launch an independent, robust investigation immediately in order to ascertain violations of human rights and freedom, which is in line with the international standard of the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders (Article 9 - Section 5) passed by the United Nations on December 9, 1998.

2. Establish an independent fact-finding team coordinated directly by the National Comission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM), and conduct a thorough, independent investigation.

3. Assign Indonesian Police Headquarters (Mabes POLRI) as lead investigators on Golfrid Siregar’s death and conduct the investigation in a public and transparent manner, given existing conflicts of interest within the local North Sumatran police department (POLDA Sumut) and Golfrid’s advocacy work to expose legal irregularities in local projects.

4. Immediately publish Presidential Regulations which establish and ensure protections for environmental, human rights defenders, so as to prevent any further violence and criminalization of those who may expose unjust or illegal activities at the price of their lives.

5. Establish and enshrine people’s rights to life and environmental sustainability as inviolable prerequisites within Indonesian policies and programs related to economic development.

Lastly, we note that Golfrid Siregar’s untimely death occurs as part of a broader patter of criminalization and intimidation of Indonesian environmental human rights defenders. These include Indra Pelani, Salim Kancil, Yohanes Balubun, Poroduka, and now Golfrid Siregar, as well as the attempted murder by arson experienced by Murdani in West Nusa Tenggara. As such, we strongly call on the Indonesian government to take the above actions in order to ensure that no more lives – the country’s best and brightest – will be lost in the future.

Sincerely,

1. 11.11.11 Belgium

2. 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon

3. Abibiman Foundation

4. Accion Ecologica

5. Accountability Counsel

6. Africa Japan Forum

7. Aliansi Jurnalis Independen

8. Alyansa Tigil Mina

9. Amazon Watch

10. Amics de la Terra Mallorca

11. Amigos da Terra Brasil/Friends of the Earth Brazil

12. Amigos de la Tierra Argentina/Friends of the Earth Argentina

13. AMUMRA

14. Animal People, Inc.

15. Animals Asia

16. Aotearoa New Zealand Human Rights Foundation

17. ARA

18. Arab Youth Climate Movement

19. Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy

20. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development

21. Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development

22. Asociacion Ambiente y Sociedad

23. Attac France

24. Australian Rainforest Conservation Society

25. Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association/Friends of the Earth Bangladesh

26. Bangladesh Krishok Federation

27. Bank Information Center

28. BankTrack

29. BIC Europe

30. Biofuelwatch

31. Bolivian Platform on Climate Change

32. Borneo Futures

33. Both ENDS

34. Bruno Manser Fonds

35. Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation

36. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

37. Cairns Climate Action Network

38. Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organisations

39. Campaign for Survival & Dignity

40. Censat Agua Viva - Amigos de la Tierra Colombia

41. Centar za životnu sredinu/Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina

42. Center for International Environmental Law

43. Central Coast Greens

44. Centre for Environmental Justice/Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka

45. Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights/ Friends of the Earth Papua New Guinea

46. Centro Amazónico de Antropología y Aplicación Practica

47. Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo S.J."

48. Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas

49. CESTA/ Friends of the Earth El Salvador

50. Clean Air Action Group

51. Climate Watch Thailand

52. Climaxi/Friends of the Earth Flanders

53. CNCD-11.11.11

54. Coal Action Network

55. COECOCEIBA/ Amigos de la Tierra Costa Rica

56. Colectivo Geografía Crítica Ecuador

57. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network

58. Community Resource Centre

59. Conseil Regional des Organisations Non Gouvernementales de Development

60. CooperAcción

61. Cordillera Peoples Alliance

62. Corporate Europe Observatory

63. deCOALonize Movement

64. Democracy Green

65. Diálogo 2000-Jubileo Sur Argentina

66. E3G

67. EarthRights International

68. East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

69. EcoEquity

70. EJAtlas Project

71. Environics Trust

72. Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ Inc.

73. Environmental Association "Za Zemiata"

74. Environmental Investigation Agency

75. Environmental Justice Foundation

76. EquityBD

77. Esorg

78. Federación Indígena Empresarial y Comunidades Locales de México

79. Federación por la Autodeterminación de los Pueblos Indígenas

80. Fern

81. FIAN Indonesia

82. Focus Association for Sustainable Development/Friends of the Earth Slovenia

83. Food & Water Action

84. Forest Observatory

85. Forest Peoples Programme

86. Forum for Protection of Public Interest/Friends of the Earth Nepal

87. Freedom from Debt Coalition

88. Freedom House

89. Friends of Same

90. Friends of the Earth Australia

91. Friends of the Earth Canada

92. Friends of the Earth Czech Republic

93. Friends of the Earth Europe

94. Friends of the Earth EWNI (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)

95. Friends of the Earth France

96. Friends of the Earth International

97. Friends of the Earth Japan

98. Friends of the Earth Liberia

99. Friends of the Earth Scotland

100. Friends of the Earth Spain

101. Friends of the Earth Togo

102. Friends of the Earth United States

103. Friends of the Orangutans Malaysia

104. Friends of the Siberian Forests

105. Friends with Environment in Development

106. Front Line Defenders

107. Fundación Paso a Paso A.C.

108. Gender and Water Justice

109. Global Forest Coalition

110. Global Justice Now

111. Grassroots Global Justice

112. Great Ape Project

113. Green Advocates International

114. Greenpeace Indonesia

115. Greenpeace Southeast Asia

116. Greenpeace United Kingdom

117. groundWork/Friends of the Earth South Africa

118. HABURAS Foundation /Friends of the Earth Timor Leste

119. HEDA Resource Centre

120. Hodopathy Ethno Medicine Doctors' Association of India

121. Iceland Nature Conservation Association

122. IISCAL

123. Inclusive Development International

124. Indian Social Action Forum

125. Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation

126. Indigenous Perspectives

127. Indonesia AIDS Coalition

128. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

129. Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities

130. International Accountability Project

131. International League of People's Struggle - Commission 10

132. International Platform against Impunity

133. International Rivers

134. International Service for Human Rights

135. Jamaa Resource Initiatives

136. Japan Tropical Forest Action Network

137. Jordens Vänner/Friends of the Earth Sweden

138. Justiça Ambiental/Friends of the Earth Mozambique

139. Khan Kaneej aur ADHIKAR

140. Koalice proti palmovému oleji

141. Korea Federation for Environmental Movements/Friends of the Earth South Korea

142. La Via Campesina

143. Laudato si, z.s.

144. Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre/Friends of the Earth Philippines

145. Lilak (Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights)

146. London Mining Network

147. LPESM Riau

148. Lumiere Synergie Developpement

149. Maleya Foundation

150. Market Forces

151. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

152. Mekong Watch

153. Merdeka West Papua Support Network

154. Mighty Earth

155. Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands

156. Mom Loves Taiwan Association

157. Mouvement Ecologique/Friends of the Earth Luxembourg

158. Movimentu Dili Matak

159. MultiWatch

160. Myanmar Positive Group

161. Nabilan

162. Nacion Tawahka

163. Narasha Community Development Group

164. National Hawker Federation

165. New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light

166. NGO Forum on Asian Development Bank

167. NGO Neuer Weg

168. NIjmegen Internationale Samenwerking

169. Northern District Community Health Centre Kerang

170. Nostromo

171. Nuclear Information and Resource Service

172. Oil Change International

173. Orang Utan Republik Foundation

174. Orangutan Alliance Ltd.

175. Orangutan Land Trust

176. Oyu Tolgoi Watch

177. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

178. Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network/Friends of the Earth Palestine

179. Palm Oil Watch

180. PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao Region

181. People’ Health Movement

182. People’s Health Institute

183. Plymouth Climate Council

184. PRISMA Foundation

185. Pro Natura/Friends of the Earth Switzerland

186. Progress Lawyers Network

187. Protect the Forest, Sweden

188. Public Interest Law Centre

189. Punganay

190. Radio Rakambia

191. Rainforest Action Network

192. Rainforest Foundation Norway

193. Re:Common

194. REDES/Friends of the Earth Uruguay

195. Resguardo indígena la mirla

196. Rivers without Boundaries Coalition - Mongolia

197. Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition

198. Roraima Indigenous Council

199. Russian Social-Ecological Union/Friends of the Earth Russia

200. Sahabat Alam Malaysia/Friends of the Earth Malaysia

201. Sanlakas

202. Sarawak Campaign Committee

203. SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund

204. Siemenpuu Foundation

205. Solidar Suisse

206. Solifonds

207. SONIA for a Just New World

208. Sri Lanka Nature Group

209. Stand.earth

210. Stop the Wall Campaign (Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign)

211. Strategic Youth Network for Development

212. Sumatran Orangutan Society

213. Sustainability Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project

214. Synchronicity Earth

215. TAPOL

216. Taunggyi Youth Center

217. Tebtebba Foundation

218. The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society

219. The Citizens' News

220. The Corner House

221. The Democracy Center

222. The Oakland Institute

223. The Waterloo Foundation

224. Third World Network

225. Tokyo East Timor Association

226. Transparency International Korea

227. Timorese Youths Initiative for Development

228. UK Youth Climate Coalition

229. Urgewald

230. Watch Indonesia!

231. Weald Action Group

232. Wild Heritage

233. Witnessradio

234. WomanHealth

235. WoMin African Alliance

236. Woods & Wayside International

237. World Rainforest Movement

238. Youth For Environment Education And Development Foundation

239. Zelena Akcija/Friends of the Earth Croatia

240. Zoological Club

Countries represented

[1] The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights Defenders Protection include: WALHI, ELSAM, Imparsial, YLBHI, YPII, HRWG, ICEL, KontraS, ICW, LBH Pers, Kemitraan, PBHI, Greenpeace Indonesia, Human Rights Watch

[2] “Usut Tuntas Kematian Aktivis Golfrid Siregar, Hadirkan Negara untuk Lindungi Pembela HAM”, WALHI, October 10, 2019. https://walhi.or.id/usut-tuntas-kematian-aktivis-golfrid-siregar-hadirkan-negara-untuk-lindungi-pembela-ham

[3] Ayat S. Karokaro, “Suspicions of murder in death of Indonesian environmental activist”, Mongabay, October 9, 2019 – translated by Basten Gokko. https://news.mongabay.com/by/ayat-s-karokaro/https://news.mongabay.com/2019/10/environmental-activist-death-murder-indonesia/

[4] Dyna Rochmyaningsih, “A dam threatens the world’s rarest ape. Why are some conservationists suddenly on board?”, Science, September 10, 2019. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/09/dam-threatens-world-s-rarest-ape-why-are-some-conservationists-suddenly-board

[5] Zulfadli Siregar, “Dosen USU Onrizal Diperiksa Siber Ditreskrimsus Poldasu Terkait UU ITE”, Medan Bisnis Daily, October 10, 2019. http://www.medanbisnisdaily.com/m/news/online/read/2019/10/10/89036/dosen_usu_onrizal_diperiksa_siber_ditreskrimsus_poldasu_terkait_uu_ite/#.XZ7udjcsnMR.whatsapp

[6] The Indonesian Civil Society Organizations have issued a joint statement calling on the Indonesian government to urgently take these actions. The joint statement can be found here: https://walhi.or.id/usut-tuntas-kematian-aktivis-golfrid-siregar-hadirkan-negara-untuk-lindungi-pembela-ham