“God has Come to Bring Liberation!”

“The Church must be present to meet the people in the streets,” said Pastor Walden Sitanggang, as a rally of 8,000 people marched in peaceful protest to see the Governor of North Sumatra, Indonesia. “It is time for the church to show that God has come to bring liberation.”

He is chairman of the Joint Secretariat for Ecological Justice, which was founded by the North Sumatran churches in response to the injustice perpetrated by PT Toba Pulp Lestari.

“Shut down this company!”

The company TP Toba Pulp Lestari has received a government concession to exploit land in North Sumatra. This permit has led to a situation, where parts of land have two owners at the same time: the company on the one hand, and local communities around Lake Toba and in South Tapanuli on the other hand, especially indigenous communities.

The living space of the local people is shrinking, so that the company can replace diverse and healthy forests with monoculture eucalyptus forests, which it then uses as raw material to produce pulp. Communities are trying to defend their living space, but they face violence and criminalisation when attempting to do so. For the demonstrators, this is enough: They demand the shutdown of Toba Pulp Lestari, which has destroyed so much for profit.

United Evangelical Mission (UEM) is concerned with the situation, since land rights are a central part of its advocacy work: Ms. Irma Simanjuntak, UEM Advocacy Officer in the Asia Region, is working together with UEM member churches to ensure land rights are protected.

The problem is: monoculture forest soil doesn’t “drink” as much water as diverse forest soil does. So the water creates its own ways, causing flash floods, landslides and droughts. Besides, monkeys and boars that usually find shelter and food in a normal forest, starve in a monoculture: They seek refuge in human’s villages, destroying farms and property on their search for food.

500 pastors on the street

Part of the 8000 demonstrators are 500 protestant and catholic pastors and priests. Together with their siblings from other religions, they represent the support of many UEM member churches: HKBP*, HKI*, GBKP*, GKPI*, and GKPS* all joined the fight against Toba Pulp Lestari. The peaceful action began with an interfaith prayer – a symbol for all religions that the issue of injustice is the responsibility of all religions.

The demonstrators unfurled banners, gave speeches, sang songs, prayed and performed theatrical acts to get the attention of the North Sumatra Governor and of the public. Muslim clerics, representatives of indigenous communities, students and non government organizations: Toba Pulp Lestari united a lot of people against itself. The Joint Secretariat for Ecological Justice is coordinating their action.

Ephorus Rev Dr Victor Tinambunan, head of the HKBP, emphasized the importance of nonviolence: “Our voice should be strong, but in the spirit of peace.” The demonstrators demanded a meeting with the Governor of North Sumatra. However, the Governor did not meet with the people and was represented by the Deputy Governor, which caused dissatisfaction among the protesters. Further steps to preserve creation in North Sumatra are already in preparation: UEM and its member churches will come again.

 

*HKBP = Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (Christian-Protestant Church of the Batak)

*HKI = Huria Kristen Indonesia (Christian Church of Indonesia)

*GBKP = Gereja Batak Karo Protestan (Protestant Church of the Karo Batak)

*GKPI = Gereja Kristen Protestan Indonesia (Christian-Protestant Church in Indonesia)

*GKPS = Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (Christian-Protestant Church of the Simalungun)