Today, March 11, marks the third anniversary of the arrest of six residents of Pari Island by the Thousand Islands Police Department while they were soliciting donations from tourists at Pasir Perawan Beach. They were taken—without an arrest warrant—to the Thousand Islands Police Station in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
Three of the six people arrested were later released, while three were detained. Those detained were Mustaghfirin (alias Boby), Bahrudin (alias Edo), and Mastono (alias Baok). They were accused of illegal collection of fees, even though the donations collected from tourists were used for beach cleanup, the provision of facilities such as lighting and seating, and other amenities to ensure tourists’ comfort. These donations were also used to support the elderly, widows, and orphans, as well as to make donations to mosques.
When the case file was transferred to the North Jakarta District Attorney’s Office, the charge of illegal collection was changed to extortion with violence, as stipulated in Article 368 of the Criminal Code. The three residents of Pari Island stood trial as defendants at the North Jakarta District Court and were found guilty, sentenced to 6 months and 14 days in prison at Cipinang. Subsequently, the Jakarta High Court acquitted these three fishermen. This acquittal signifies that the arrest and imprisonment of the three fishermen from Pari Island constituted criminalization. Financiers or investors pitted the residents of Pari Island against the law in order to gain control of the island.
Pantai Perawan is a tourist icon on Pari Island. This beach was opened and developed through community cooperation and self-help efforts by the people of Pari Island. It first opened in 2010 following a community consensus decision spearheaded by Pari Island youth organized under FORSIR (Coastal Youth Forum). To this day, Perawan Beach is jointly managed by the residents of Pari Island.
It has not been easy for the residents to promote and develop tourism on Pari Island. They have faced many ups and downs in their efforts to ensure that Pari Island offers a comfortable experience for tourists, including accommodations, food, facilities, and safety.
The Central Statistics Agency of the Thousand Islands Administrative District recorded the following tourist figures for Pari Island from 2011 to 2015: 9,382 visitors in 2011, 36,238 in 2012, 173,571 in 2013, 476,612 in 2014, and 126,008 in 2015. According to information from the Pari Island community, the number of tourists arriving from mid-year through the end of the year ranges from 900 to 3,000 people per week. This figure does not include those who arrive by chartered boat. The increase in the number of tourists on Pari Island has been achieved through a community-based tourism management model.
Tourism on Pari Island is currently helping to improve the community’s standard of living, as evidenced by the rising educational attainment of the island’s children. Previously, no children from Pari Island were able to attend college, but today approximately 10 children from the island are pursuing higher education. This economic progress is also marked by the absence of crime on Pari Island, making it one of the safest and most comfortable tourist destinations in the Thousand Islands.
The Chairperson of the Pari Island Care Forum (FP3), Mustaghfirin, stated that today the community is holding the “Sedekah Kopi” (Coffee Almsgiving), a time-honored tradition of Pari Island residents to express gratitude to the Almighty for all the blessings, health, and safety enjoyed by the community, as well as to commemorate the criminalization that Pari Island residents once endured. About five people have been confronted by the police. This event also serves as a source of encouragement to continue the fight to protect Pari Island from the threat of investor takeovers and privatization.
Rehwinda Naibaho, a campaigner for WALHI DKI Jakarta, also noted that the community’s struggle requires strong spirit and determination from the residents, as well as solidarity from all parties who have supported the fight to save Pari Island—such as tourists, students, nature lovers, artists, academics, NGOs, and other members of the public. We at the Save Pari Island Coalition (KSPP) will continue to stand with the community in the fight to protect Pari Island. If Pari Island is controlled and managed by the community, it will ensure their well-being and preserve the environment.
Save Pulau Pari!!!
#SavePulauPari
#STOPPrivatization
Contacts:
Edi Mulyono - 081808715117 (FP3)
Fatilda Hasibuan - 081260767526 (WALHI National Executive)
Rehwinda - 081319117808 (WALHI DKI Jakarta)
Fikerman - 082365967999 (KIARA)
Roosman - 081903084941 (KNTI)
Charlie - 081224024901 (LBH Jakarta)