Luhut Often Challenges Opening Data When Criticized: Will Faisal Basri Have The Same Fate As Haris Azhar?

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked Economist Faisal Basri to disclose data on allegations of a mining pit near the location of the National Capital City (IKN) of the Archipelago in East Kalimantan. Challenging open data has become Luhut's trademark when responding to criticism. Previously, when criticized by two activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, he also did the same thing.

"Until now we are still waiting for confirmation from Mr. Faisal Basri regarding his information on Mr Luhut's ex-mining pit, Mr Luhut's mining pit, we ask that if he has the data, please convey it immediately so that if the information is correct Mr. Luhut immediately orders his company to immediately complete its accountability, but we hope that the statement is wrong, the data is inaccurate or not credible, please explain it to the public," said Luhut spokesman Jodi Mahardi as quoted by Detik.

Previously, Fasal Basri criticized the construction of a new capital city in East Kalimantan. He mentioned a number of figures involved in the big project. That's when the economist also mentioned Luhut's name.

"Then there are the holes that were left by the Luhut Pandjaitan company, they are considered no longer there. We should have audited the environmental damage first. So, this will be a cleansing from past sins," said Faisal.

Regarding this data, it is not difficult to find. The Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) report, for example, states that in 2017 four out of ten open holes in the Kutai Energi concession, a company owned by Luhut, were not reclaimed.

"In one of the holes, the water flows into the Nangka River without being filtered. We also carried out lab tests. The results showed a high level of acidity and a high level of metal contamination," Jatam wrote via his Twitter account.

This is a mining pit belonging to PT Kutai Energi which was taken on November 22, 2021 yesterday. The location is in the IKN area. Please see if it has been reclaimed or not.@FaisalBasri pic.twitter.com/qa5EsOE8o4

— National JATAM (@jatamnas) January 26, 2022

Luhut vs Haris Azhar

Luhut's response, which is skeptical of data when criticized, is not the first time. In September last year, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan responded to accusations by human rights activist Haris Azhar and KontraS Coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti regarding the mining business in Papua, by challenging them to disclose the data on their allegations in public.

"Please, just open it to the media now, from now on you can also open it in the media," said Luhut, September 27, 2021, quoted by Antara. Luhut believes the related data will not provide evidence because he does not have a mining business in Papua.

"I don't have any business at all in Papua, absolutely nothing. Moreover, it's called mining, that means plural, I don't exist."

This chaos began with a Youtube show entitled "There is a Lord Luhut Behind Intan Jaya's Economic Relations-Military Ops! The BIN General Is Also There!". Due to the video, Luhut felt aggrieved and sent a subpoena to Haris Azhar.

Human Rights Activist Haris Azhar (DOK VOI/Rizky AP)

Luhut's side considers Haris and Fatia's statement to be tendentious and tend to defame. Because at that time, Haris and Fatia said that PT Tobacom Del Mandiri, which is a subsidiary of the Toba Sejahtera Group, had been in the mining business in Papua.

The Coordinating Minister for Marves repeatedly urged Haris and Fatia to apologize. However, Must admit that he is reluctant to apologize to Luhut.

Both parties attempted mediation but failed. The case continues. Luhut chose to continue the legal process of the case.

Until January 18 yesterday, the news that Haris Azhar and Fatia were visited by investigators from the Polda Metro Jaya became a public discussion. The two activists are said to be forced to pick up by officers related to the defamation case reported by Luhut.

According to the police statement, the investigator's arrival was made after Haris and Fatia did not attend the police summons twice in December 2021 and January 2022. And the police also denied that investigators forcibly picked up Haris Azhar and Fatia.

*Read other information about LEGAL CASES, read other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

Other BERNAS