Contra-Transgenic Activist Arrested after a Visiting of Indonesian Parliament
Press Release of Consumers Organization of South Sulawesi (YLKSS) August 7, 2001
Andi Mappasomba, an activist of NGO, Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, arrested by Bantaeng Resort-Police, South Sulawesi soon after a hearing between a member of Commission III Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) and local council-government in Bantaeng, August 7 2001. A member of Indonesian Parliament was taking visiting to Kaloling village, Bantaeng, to see transgenic cotton (cotton Bt), that had launched and promoted by Trans National Corporations Monsanto-based St. Louis, USA.
About 100 Bantaeng farmer responded that visiting by taking demonstration to refuse transgenic plant in Bantaeng. At 12 p.m., a member of Indonesian Parliament that accompanied by local council-government were having a hearing concerned about transgenic cotton that now have been emerged to be a controversial issue.
Mappasomba arrested by Resort-police of Bantaeng at 2 p.m. in Bantaeng. According to a guard commander of the Bantaeng resort-police, 2nd lieutenant Haris, explained that Mappasomba was considered have made a provocation to mass to take a contra to transgenic cotton. According to the police, Mappasomba was arrested to save him from pro-transgenic mass.
One of a farmer, Amir from Kaloling village, who knew the arresting, said that Mappasomba arrested because he asked about environmental impacts caused by transgenic plant and over-doses use of pesticide in cotton Bt. "This kind of question should not be asked by him" said Amir.
The few NGO in South Sulawesi: Yayasan Lembaga Konsumen Sulawesi Selatan (YLKSS), Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat (YPR), Barisan Oposisi Rakyat (BOR) and Yayasan Bumi Hijau (YBH) are very regretting to that case. An arresting of an activist in a formal forum like a hearing with a member of Indonesian Parliament is an act despising and unconstitutional. It is an arrogant action of the police and as indication of a bad start of Megawati's government (the new president of Indonesia). While we hope soon the Bulukumba Resort-police and South Sulawesi Regional-Police to clarify that case.
Judy Rahardjo (the secretary of YLKSS)