Defending Rights and Realising Just Economies: Human Rights Defenders and Business 2015-2024

This case study examines the human rights risks associated with the Rempang Eco-City project in Indonesia, highlighting the violence and judicial harassment faced by residents and human rights defenders (HRDs) opposing the development.

• The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) is the largest energy transition financing project globally, providing USD20 billion to help Indonesia decarbonise its coal-powered economy.
• The Rempang Eco-City project, developed by PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG), involves a proposed USD11.6 billion glass and solar panel factory by Xinyi International Investment. The project is criticized for relying on coal power and threatening the eviction of approximately 7,500 residents of Rempang Island, including Indigenous seafarers, while allegedly violating land rights and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Opposition to the Rempang Eco-City project has been met with systemic violence and intimidation. On 7 September 2023, police used teargas and arrested over 40 people. On 18 September 2024, unidentified plain-clothes individuals attacked residents at a mosque. On 18 December 2024, approximately 20 employees of PT Makmur Elok Graha reportedly attacked residents with weapons including machetes, knives, clubs, and arrows, resulting in eight injuries and the destruction of village posts and motorcycles.
• Human rights defenders facing the Rempang Eco-City project have been subjected to judicial harassment. Following the December 2024 attacks, the government brought criminal charges against Siti Hawa, Sani Rio, and Abu Bakar, though these charges were dropped in February 2025 after civil society outcry.
• In response to allegations regarding the Rempang Eco-City project, Xinyi International Investment stated it had not initiated any eco-city project or entered into contracts, and claimed to respect Indigenous Peoples' rights. PT Makmur Elok Graha did not respond to inquiries.

APA

TrendAsia (2025). Defending Rights and Realising Just Economies: Human Rights Defenders and Business 2015-2024. Trend Asia. https://trendasia.org/en/defending-rights-and-realising-just-economies-human-rights-defenders-and-business-2015-2024/

Chicago

TrendAsia. Defending Rights and Realising Just Economies: Human Rights Defenders and Business 2015-2024. Trend Asia, 2025. https://trendasia.org/en/defending-rights-and-realising-just-economies-human-rights-defenders-and-business-2015-2024/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=TrendAsia |title=Defending Rights and Realising Just Economies: Human Rights Defenders and Business 2015-2024 |publisher=Trend Asia |date=26 May 2025 |url=https://trendasia.org/en/defending-rights-and-realising-just-economies-human-rights-defenders-and-business-2015-2024/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trendasia2025defending, author = {TrendAsia}, title = {{Defending Rights and Realising Just Economies: Human Rights Defenders and Business 2015-2024}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://trendasia.org/en/defending-rights-and-realising-just-economies-human-rights-defenders-and-business-2015-2024/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }