The opening hearing session at the Unaaha District Court in Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi province on Monday, December 23, 2024, which is trying co-owners of coal-fired plants PT OSS and PT VDNI over human rights violation and environmental damage allegations, was adjourned until January 6, 2025 after both owners failed to show up.
“We really regret the absence of the two companies, even though summonses have been sent earlier. The defendants are not cooperative and do not have good faith in the legal process,” Andi Rahman, Director of the Southeast Sulawesi chapter of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), said as quoted in a statement on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
The court was to try the petition filed by the surrounding residents of the Morosi Industrial Estate, along with Walhi’s Southeast Sulawesi chapter, the Kendari Legal Aid Institute, and the Makassar chapter of the Legal Aid Foundation against the existence of captive coal-fired power plant (PLTU) owned by PT OSS and PT VDNI, which is considered to have long damaged the lives and health of the community around the power plant.
The Captive PLTU owned by these companies uses coal energy in its operation. As a result, the diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) on local residents and pollution of fish/shrimp ponds due to air pollution and industrial waste has continued to increase annually since 2018.
“The impact of coal dust also attacks public health, with data from the Morosi Health Center shows a high trend of respiratory diseases annually,” Andi said.
In addition, based on the results of Walhi Sultra’s research, the majority of Morosi people who make a living as pond farmers experience economic losses due to the operation of the Captive PLTU.
“In addition to environmental damage, economic losses and health problems, there are also cases of human rights violations here,” Andi cited.
The residents, along with the Coalition of Legal Aid organizations, then asked for environmental restoration and cessation of PLTU operations that still use coal, in addition to material and immaterial compensationa from PT OSS and PT VDNI for the PLTU activities. They also asked the Ministry of Environment and the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Administratio to perform their duties based on existing laws and regulations.
