HALMAHERA, INDONESIA- RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International Indonesia has called for the immediate and unconditional release of 11 indigenous residents detained in East Halmahera, North Maluku, for protesting against nickel mining activities on their ancestral land. The arrests are seen as part of a broader pattern of criminalizing environmental defenders and indigenous communities.

According to Amnesty’s Executive Director Usman Hamid, the arrests represent a disturbing attempt to silence indigenous voices who are opposing environmentally destructive extractive industries. “Suppressing protests through arrests undermines the rights of indigenous peoples to protect their environment and traditional lands,” he said.

The protests stem from grievances over a lack of proper consultation before mining operations began, and the serious consequences that followed—including water contamination, health issues, and the loss of local livelihoods. “Refusing mining is not a crime. Defending land and life is a constitutional and international right,” Hamid added.

Amnesty noted that the Indonesian police used excessive force during peaceful demonstrations. On April 28, about 300 residents from Wayamli and Yawanli villages marched to the local office of PT Sambaki Tambang Sentosa (STS) to protest. They were met by dozens of police and Brimob officers who fired 10 rounds of tear gas without warning, injuring at least three people.

The violence reportedly traumatized several women and children. Just two days earlier, on April 26, police had forced Wayamli villagers to leave their customary land, with some residents handcuffed during the operation. The land had been cleared by STS without the community’s consent.

Further legal pressure escalated when, on May 10, 14 residents were summoned by police over accusations from PT STS. The company claimed they had committed crimes including carrying sharp weapons, incitement, and land seizure during a previous protest on April 21.