On 7 October 2023, Indonesian police violently repressed a demonstration of Dayak Banjar Indigenous People protesting the occupation of their traditional lands by oil palm company PT Hamparan Massawit Bangun Persada (HMBP), a subsidiary of Best Agro International. The police shot and killed human rights defender, Gijik and injured Taufik Nurahman. At least 12 people were arrested. 

Local residents claim that not only has PT HMBP taken over their lands without recognising their customary rights, but that it has also expanded beyond the area of the company’s permit, issued by the government. Communities have been contesting the use of their lands by PT HMBP without their consent, offering fair compensation, and or providing compensatory smallholdings since 2008. In 2007, the Indonesian government made it mandatory for companies that hold plantation licenses to give a fifth of any new plantation to smallholder farmers, aimed at ensuring rural communities also benefit. However, a government audit in 2022 found that only 21% of Indonesian oil palm plantation companies have fulfilled their legal obligations to allocate land for smallholder farmers.

“We consider it to be a violation of human rights when state agents who are tasked with defending the public engage in repression directed towards the community. Especially because what is done by the community is just to obtain their rights that [are] legally protected under [the] Constitution,” said a statement from Indonesian NGOs condemning the attacks.

On 21 September 2023, members of the community were shot at with tear gas by the police. Previously the community had entered into negotiations with the company who supposedly refused to comply with the community demands, which resulted in protests by the community.

On 23 September 2023 Taufik Nurrahman and Ambaryanto were injured.