34 members of Sihaporas indigenous communities
Fuentes
On 22 September, members of Sihaporas indigenous communities and their family members allegedly were attacked – while defending their land - by 300 personnel from PT Toba Pulp Lestari (security, temporary workers & mob), equipped with wooden sticks & shields and helmets in Buttu Pangaturan (Sihaporas indigenous areas), Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra.
PT TPL’s personnel then allegedly dismissed Sihaporas' indigenous communities with violence; beating children & elderly persons, burned four residential buildings, ten motorcycles and one pickup truck during the incident. Around 34 members of indigenous communities were injured and taken to the nearby hospital.
Sihaporas' indigenous communities alleges PT Toba Pulp Letari continues to encroach their customary lands and destroy community crops, and replace them with eucalyptus trees and other high-value crops. Their presence in Buttu Pangaturan was meant to protect their crops and dispel any attempts by PT Toba Pulp Lestari to oust them from their lands since 1990.