Bambang Hero Saharjo is being sued and harassed for testifying in court that illegal tin mining in Indonesia has caused billions of dollars in environmental damages.
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President Prabowo Subianto
Bina Graha Building
Jl. Veteran No. 16, Central Jakarta, 10110
The Republic of Indonesia
February 24, 2025
Your Excellency:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are writing regarding threats that have been endured by the environmental forensic scientist, Bambang Hero Saharo. Saharo, a Professor of the Faculty of Forestry at IPB University, won the John Maddox prize in 2019. As an expert witness, he testified in court that satellite and other data, taken between 2015 and 2022, showed the presence of illegal tin mining extending far beyond the areas that were actually licensed to the involved mining companies. Destruction from this tin mining was taking place in forest and non-forest areas, causing mass death of wildlife, deforestation, and unclean water systems.
Despite his credentials, Professor Saharo has been harassed and sued merely because he testified in court about this illegal and environmentally destructive tin mining. This destruction amounted to 16.6 billion dollars in damages (271 trillion rupiah), and additional major financial losses to the state. Andi Kusuma, the chairman of the prosecuted company, has threatened to sue Saharo, because somehow, he believes that Saharo’s testimony was outside of his expertise.
Beyond the threat of lawsuits, Professor Saharo is being attacked both on social media and by live protesters. They claim that his calculations are wrong, despite being a direct interpretation of satellite data. Moreover, he has been reported to the police.
The Committee is concerned that these actions against Bambang Hero Saharjo represent a pattern of intimidation that the office of the President has not addressed adequately. Professor Saharjo has testified in more than 500 environmentally related cases. The work of environmental academics is vital to the wellbeing of the planet, especially in the contentious times we live in. We therefore urge you to take action and protect Professor Saharjo from both financial and physical attacks on him.
Sincerely,
CC:
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520