At least 14 residents of Dingin Indigenous Village, Muara Lawa District, West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan were arrested by the local police on Saturday (25/3). The reason, they are considered to hinder mining business activities. Of that number, all were named as suspects.

"One more was released because he was underage but remains a suspect," said Pokja 30 Director Buyung Marajo when confirmed by CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (5/4) afternoon.

Buyung said that actually the dozens of residents only wanted to protect their area from becoming a mining area. This is because their source of livelihood from the forest can disappear if it becomes a mining area.

It's not only Dingin Village that feels the impact, there's also Latoq Village. Both are areas of Muara Lawa District.

"However, when they wanted to defend their territory, 12 indigenous people from Tinggi Village were arrested and made suspects. Likewise one lawyer and a minor," said Buyung.

Dozens of indigenous people were charged with Article 162 of the Minerba Law because they were considered to be obstructing mining business activities. There are also those who are charged with Emergency Law No. 12/1951 concerning Sharp Weapons.

Responding to this, the Director of LBH Samarinda, Fathul Huda stated that this situation was tantamount to violating human rights. The reason is, these residents only want to defend their rights to land and rivers so that they are not mined.

"The struggle to defend land and rivers by the indigenous people of Dingin Village is not a crime, let alone hindering company activities. The police should be the party that facilitates the fulfillment of these citizens' rights," said Fathul.

"From the beginning this was their right (land), long before the mining company entered," he added some time ago.