Jakarta – Police in East Java have charged 18 people in connection with the death of a farmer who had been leading a protest against mining activities in his village.

Salim, a farmer from the village of Selok Awar-Awar in Lumajang district, died from his injuries on Saturday after he was mobbed by at least a dozen men who had dragged him from his home. His battered body was later discovered in a rice field.

The same group of men also attacked Tosan, the coordinator of the Anti-Mining Farmers' Forum, who remains in critical condition. Both men were leaders of a protest against a sand mining operation in nearby Watu Pecak beach.

Lumajang district police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Fadly Munzir Ismail said police have arrested a total of 36 people, 18 of whom have been officially charged with assaulting Salim and Tosan.

"Each [of the 18 suspects] had different roles, from recruiting [the attackers], ordering [the assault], and beating the victims, to electrocuting the pair," Fadly said as quoted by Tempo.co news portal on Monday.

"Included among the 18 charged is the mastermind [behind the assault]." The officer however refused to confirm whether the assaults were directly linked to the victims' activities in protesting the mining activities.

"We will work as hard as we can to get to the bottom of the case. We shall see where the case leads us. Will it stop at the 18 [suspects] or lead to others [responsible]," he said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-arrest-18-death-anti-mining-farmer/