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HRD Attack

26 Aug 2021

Haris Azhar - Lokataru Foundation

Incident date
26 Aug 2021
Date accuracy
All Correct
Haris Azhar
Male
Lokataru Foundation
Human rights group
Lawsuits & regulatory action
Target: Individual
Location of Incident: Indonesia
PT Toba Bara Sejahtera (TS) Indonesia Palm trees & oil, Mining, Energy
Other actors

Sources

Haris Azhar is an Indonesian human rights advocate, co-founder and Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation. On August 26, 2021, the Indonesian Investment and Maritime Affairs issued a subpoena against Haris Azhar and human rights activists KontraS coordinator Fatia Maulidianti for the posting of a talk show on Haris Azhar's YouTube channel, concerning alleged slander related to the mining operation issues in Papua province. In the online video, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti discussed the research results of several human rights organizations about the involvement of Indonesian Army officials and retirees behind the gold mining business and their plan to exploit the Blok Wabu area in Intan Jaya, Papua. In the video, the human rights defenders mentioned one of the mining companies involved, PT Tobacom Del Mandiri, a subsidiary of the Toba Sejahtera Group. The subpoena reportedly mentions that in absence of apology, legal actions will follow. The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) decries the case filed by the government as it endangers the freedom of expression.

On 6 March 2023, the case file for alleged defamation charges faced by Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar was declared complete (a status known as P21 in Indonesia) and handed over to the East Jakarta District Attorney's Office. The two defenders were acquitted of defamation charges on 8 January 2024.