Sahat Simatupang, Medan – Delima Silalahi, an environmental activist in Toba Regency, North Sumatra, received a package containing a bloody carcass of a bird at her home in Silangit, Toba, on Friday morning. Packaged in a cardboard box with a sticker that read 'To: Delima' on it, the delivery was sent by an unknown person.
Delima learned of the package at around 8:15 a.m. local time, when a worker at her house informed her about the package. The unsuspecting delivery sat on a table in the open area where Delima would often receive guests.
"The lady told me about the package. I didn't suspect anything. After opening the box, I found a dead bird inside with blood stains," Delima told Tempo on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Delima suspected the package was an act of terror linked to the demands to shut down PT Toba Pulp Lestari – hereby referred to as TPL – something that has been strongly voiced also by HKBP church leaders due to the ecological and social crisis the company caused.
The activist said she will pay a visit to the police chiefs of Toba, Humbang Hasundutan, North Tapanuli, and Samosir resort police with the Community Initiative and Development Study Group (KSPPM) to speak about the alleged terror incident. "We will ask the police to maintain a conducive atmosphere," she said.
Delima suspected that the bloody dead bird terror was related to the demonstration by TPL workers on May 26, 2025, which called for her arrest. Delima's name and two environmental activists were mentioned as the cause of the community's conflict with TPL.
When contacted separately, TPL's Corporate Communication Head, Salomo Sihotang, denied that the company was behind the workers' protest on May 26, especially to the extent of calling for arrests.
He claimed that TPL provides room for dialogue and welcomes input from all parties who seek to create fair and responsible sustainability in the Tano Batak area. "We respect everyone's right to express their opinions, but we hope that they are based on accurate data and facts," said Salomo.
He added that a comprehensive audit of the company by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry had been conducted in 2022-2023, which cleared TPL from any alleged violations of environmental and social aspects.