22-10-2023 (JAKARTA) In the peaceful fishing village of Pasir Merah, located on Indonesia’s Rempang Island just an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore, determined housewives have become human roadblocks for over a month. Their mission is to screen unfamiliar vehicles and strangers entering their community.
“Who are you? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to meet?” they ask, taking turns to inspect car trunks and scrutinize identity cards. They are vigilant, to say the least.
“Real journalist, not a spy,” one of the housewives assured a visiting reporter. She then added, “Orang Melayu,” signifying trust, as she identified herself as a Malay person.
This heightened state of alertness is a response to violent clashes between residents of the surrounding Malay villages and local authorities over two days in September. The conflict escalated to the extent that even the police and military had to be mobilized. The root of the issue was the sudden demand for villagers to vacate their homes, farms, livelihoods, and land to make way for a multi-billion-dollar China-funded investment project. Offers of relocation and compensation by the authorities were largely rejected by the residents, whose villages occupy 7,000 hectares of non-forested land designated as a new special industrial zone.
The US$11.5 billion project, known as Rempang Eco-City, was approved by President Joko Widodo when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in late July. Designated as a “National Strategic Project,” this initiative falls under the direct purview of the President, allowing authorities to acquire land for its development.
The new industrial zone is set to house facilities such as a glass and solar panel factory operated by China’s Xinyi Group, the world’s largest solar panel producer. The remaining 10,000 hectares of Rempang will be preserved as natural forest for now.
The Rempang case has not only generated significant protests but also placed the spotlight on Chinese investments in Indonesia, revealing longstanding grievances ranging from local communities’ interests being marginalized to industrial issues like poor working conditions and unequal treatment of Indonesian workers.
However, the protests in Rempang were not limited to this community, as Indonesians in other parts of the country have voiced concerns about Chinese workers receiving higher salaries, better accommodation, and taking jobs away from locals. Chinese workers have been perceived as not being interested in assimilating into the local culture, which has led to jealousy and protests.
As tensions escalate, the government is adopting a gentler approach to resolving the conflict. Several ministers have been dispatched to engage in dialogue with the residents and reach an agreement. Offers of compensation for houses valued at 120 million rupiahs (S$10,400) and 500 square meters of land have been made, but only a handful of Rempang residents have accepted the offer.
The situation in Rempang not only highlights the challenges associated with major foreign investments but also underscores the importance of community engagement, transparency, and a more inclusive approach to development projects.
Amid this dispute, Rempang residents are not only fighting for their homes but also for the preservation of Malay traditions and identity. In a country with a diverse ethnic landscape, such as Indonesia, acknowledging and respecting the cultural heritage and identity of its minority communities is of paramount importance. The ongoing standoff in Rempang reflects the broader complexities that arise when development projects intersect with deeply rooted local customs and identities.
Kebohongan Pejabat di Era Jokowi : agar mendapatkan cuan, jual negara berkedok INVESTASI, sampai bawa warga luar Rempang utk tanda tangan sb tanda setuju utk direlokasi dgn mengatas namakan warga Rempang-Galang.
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Culas…. pic.twitter.com/xcZ3zVOzzz— ????ꪶỉᦋꪖꪗꪖ???????????????????? (@Li9ayaTalaChes4) October 17, 2023
