"Nukila Evanty warns of reprisal action against environmental activists" 4 February 2025

Nukila Evanty and the Indigenous Peoples Initiative (IMA) conducted research in Sepang Bay, Bengkulu, at the beginning of January 2025. The study found suspicion of reprisals against environmental activists living around the extractive industry area, ax they actively advocate for environmental protection for communities living near the industrial sites.

Unfortunately, this advocacy was challenged by companies, the government and influential figures in the area. These activists were intimidated, subjected to violence and even criminalized. “We suspect that these environmental activists and their activities have been beaten,” IMA Chairperson Nukila Evanty told the Independent Observer (Jan. 31).

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Nukila then conveyed one of the interesting findings around Teluk Sepang, Bengkulu. Since 2016, the people of Teluk Sepang have stubbornly opposed the construction of a steam-electric power plant (PLTU). They found it difficult to communicate with the companies. Therefore, they received advocacy assistance from environmental activists.

One of these activists disclosed that she had faced a number of reprisals. “For example, she was shunned from social and government activities in the village. For a year, she was excluded from community activities. She was often stalked by strangers after she had participated in a protest. Other activists also reported similar experiences, where they were shunned from community activities. Some companies even offered them a bribe, money to cease their campaign,” said Nukila.

One of the female activists told Nukila how she had to deal with social exclusion. “She was shunned by her neighbors, and her child’s educational scholarship was revoked by village authorities,” said Nukila.

While environmental activists are facing retaliation, the community is facing severe environmental impacts: “Dust pollution and wastewater pollution in the sea. The local community, most of whom work as fishermen, were also heavily affected. Damage to coral reefs and the death of turtles made it difficult for fishermen to capture fish. Some of them had no other option but to switch to casual labor work,” said Nukila.

Many workers, women in particular, have been complaining about health problems, such as coughing and shortness of breath. Regrettably, they never received any routine medical examinations from the health center or the company.

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