"Urgent Concern regarding Human Rights Violations of the Pocoleok Indigenous Community for expansion of Ulumbu Geothermal Power Plant" 11 November 2024

We, the undersigned organizations – Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), and Perhimpunan Pembela Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (PPMAN), Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (BPAN), PEREMPUAN AMAN, the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), along with other Indigenous Peoples Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and individuals – are writing to express our urgent concern about the ongoing human rights violations against the Pocoleok Indigenous Community related to the expansion of the Ulumbu Geothermal Power Plant by PT. PLN (National Electricity Company). The expansion is being financed under a loan from the German state-owned KfW Development Bank.

On October 2, 2024, security forces, including members of the Indonesian military, Police and Pol PP, accompanied by PLN and government officials forcibly entered the lands of the Pocoleok community in Manggarai regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia to carry out a road survey. This happened despite the community’s explicit rejection of the project’s expansion and ongoing investigations by the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia (KOMNAS HAM) and an independent team commissioned by the KfW Development Bank. ...