Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta – Dozens of Rempang residents protested the Rempang Eco City national strategic project in front of the Riau Islands police headquarters in Batam on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The residents demanded justice from the new police chief, Police Inspector General Asep Safrudin.
The residents – the majority of them women – were arriving on two buses. They came from five villages affected by the first phase of the state project. Upon their arrival at the police headquarters, the residents unfurled a banner with the words "Reject Relocation of Rempang Eco City PSN." They also delivered speeches.
"So, we hope that the new Chief of Police in Riau Islands will pay attention to us oppressed residents," said one of the residents giving a speech.
After the speeches, one of the residents from Sembulang Hulu, Aris, stated that the purpose of the demonstration in front of the Riau Islands Police Headquarters was to demand justice for the Rempang community who have been defending their indigenous land.
Aris said legal efforts have remained stagnant thus far. Aris gave an example of the conflict between project developer PT MEG with local residents. "If the city police cannot handle the case, the regional police chief must take over," Aris told the media after the protest.
Another incident with PT MEG occurred on December 18 last year, but the residents were blamed for it. "Where there's smoke, there's fire. The incident started with PT MEG's people, which angered the people, but we were blamed instead. So, we demand justice," said Aris.
Hopefully, Aris said, through this protest, the new Chief of Police in Riau Islands, can take over the cases that harmed the Rempang community. Aris sees that justice today is merely stagnant and not taken seriously. Hopefully, with this protest, the Chief of Police can thoughtfully handle the cases and resolve them.
"Residents of Rempang are also accused of robbing the freedom of PT MEG's people. But we can see that it's our freedom that has been robbed for almost two years with no justice served. So, please, don't twist the facts," Aris added.
"We have high hopes for the new police chief. Uphold the justice for us, the people of Rempang," said another protester, Roziana, a woman from Kampung Pasir Merah, who was also the first to be affected by the Rempang Eco City development
After delivering the speeches, the residents then continued the protest in front of the Mayor of Batam's Office. In line with their demands to the new Chief of Police in Riau Islands, the residents also demanded the new Mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achmad, to pay attention to the residents of Rempang.