Helping farmers to challenge mining companies

When a sand mining company’s activities damaged nearby farming land in Jogjakarta, members of the local farmers group protested, setting up banners that showed the environmental damage and organised a motorcycle convoy, which stopped next to a mosque during a religious ceremony. Police arrested a number of the participants, charging them with disturbing a religious ceremony and causing noise pollution.

The farmers association approached LBH Yogyakarta to representthe five accused at their court hearing, andthe judge fined each individual only Rp 100,000 ($10) plus Rp 1,000 ($1) for each unregistered motorcycle.

The case shows the widespread practice of using criminal laws and the police to protect interests of private individuals or companies. But the court in this case handed down relatively minor sentences.