Human rights organization Pusaka reported that on 15 May 2015, two men were detained for their involvement in a demonstration against palm oil plantation company PT Permata Putera Mandiri (PPM). Obed Korie and Odie Aitago were arrested alongside several other demonstrators who were eventually released. The demonstrators, consisting of students and community members from the Iwaro tribe in South Sorong Regency, blocked PPM offices in protest against land grabbing, illegal logging and unfair compensation, amongst other concerns, by PT PPM.
Korie and Aitago were charged with violence towards persons or property under Article 170 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. On 14 July, they attended their first court hearing.
On 25 August, Obed Korie was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment while Odie Aitago to seven months. Prosecutor Katrina Dimara previously demanded a prison sentence of one year for Obed Korie and eight months for Odi Aitago. Korie was likely to have been released on 15 October 2015.
Sources
Demo Menuntut PT. PPM, Dua Warga Dipidanakan, Suara Pusaka, 23 July 2015
Trial starts for two people arrested on demonstration at PT Permata Putera Mandril’s office, Awasmiffee, 24 July 2015
South Sorong: Oil palm industry continues its rapid expansion, Awasmiffee, 3 September 2015
Korban Kriminalisasi Obet Korie dan Odi Aitago Dituntut Hukuman Pidana Penjara, Suara Pusaka, 16 August 2015
Updated: 25 January 2016
