The Coalition of Kawali Indonesia Lestari (KAWALI) held a consolidation meeting with the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of KAWALI in Central Java on Saturday (17/6/2023) at the Secretariat of Padepokan Lintang Kemukus Paduraksa, Pemalang Regency, Central Java. The consolidation was attended by the National General Chairman of KAWALI DPN along with the Legal Team, Management of DPD, and DPW in Central Java.

This consolidation discussed the handling of environmental issues in Karimunjawa following the identification of Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan, Head of the IT and Propaganda Department of KAWALI DPD Jepara, as a suspect by the Jepara District Police Criminal Investigation Unit due to posting on FB social media related to the follow-up on the pollution of Cemara Beach in Karimunjawa due to the impact of pond waste disposal. He uploaded his post on November 12, 2022.

The post received responses from both pro-pond and opposing groups. In a reply in the comments section, Daniel wrote, "The shrimp-brained society enjoys a free meal while being devoured by pond farmers. Essentially, the shrimp-brained society is like shrimp livestock itself. Fed well, plentiful, and regular, ready to be consumed."

Ridwan, Chairman of the Karimunjawa Community Association, reported this comment by Daniel to the Jepara District Police on February 8, 2023. Daniel was reported for committing a crime as referred to in Article 28 paragraph 2, in conjunction with Article 45A paragraph 2 of Law No. 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions.

Daniel was declared a suspect according to the Notice of Suspect Determination Letter Number B/ /VI/2023/RESKRIM referring to the Letter of Determination of Suspect Number S.Tap/82/VI/2023/Reskrim, dated June 1, 2023, and the Report of the Case Investigation Hearing Results, dated May 31, 2023.

Criminalization? The National General Chairman of KAWALI DPN, Puput TD Putra, believes that designating an environmental activist as a suspect is suspected to be an act of criminalization. "What is demanded is still biased and should have a long way to go before being declared a suspect. This limits the space for movement in advocating for environmental protection and rejecting shrimp pond industries that have long been environmentally destructive," said the General Chairman of KAWALI in a press conference on Saturday (17/6/2023).

"I think Daniel FMT, as an environmental activist, should not receive injustice for his joint efforts with the Karimunjawa community to obtain justice and environmental rights. We will initiate a nationwide movement and urge law enforcement agencies and the state to stop the criminalization of environmental activists," continued Puput.

Meanwhile, Andi Rustono, Chairman of DPW KAWALI Central Java, stated that this consolidation is a sign of our collective resistance and a demand for civil society's promises regarding repressive actions, manipulated cases, baseless lawsuits, against communities fighting to preserve a healthy environment and other fundamental rights due to bad investment practices and discriminatory policies.

Andi Rustono emphasized "We see that the legal rationale doesn't align, as someone who is currently advocating for the environment is being subjected to something very different from what they are advocating for. The rationale is not fitting, providing an unfair treatment before the law for someone fighting for the environment," said Andi.

Meanwhile, Secretary of DPD Kawali Central Java, Tri Hutomo, who also attended the consolidation, explained that the state has regulated that anyone advocating for a good and healthy environment cannot be criminally charged or civilly sued.

"Based on Article 66 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, the rights of activists to fight for environmental preservation must be guaranteed by the national legal system," explained Tri.

Procedures for case resolution, including investigation and suspect determination, must be carried out professionally, proportionally, and transparently to prevent abuse of authority.