On 17 July 2026, Project Multatuli posted on the platform X about an intimidation experienced by the ‘Journalist Trip Team,’ which consisted of Project Multatuli, Tempo, Konde, and Mongabay. This intimidation took the form of banning their activities on Obi Island, North Maluku, and the threat of physical assault. According to the post, the journalists intended to travel to Kawasi Village and Soligi Village to cover the social, environmental, and human rights impacts related to Harita Nickel’s industrial operations on Obi Island.
According to online sources, Harita Nickel’s operations on Obi Island are proceeding without a Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, potentially damaging the environment and threatening endemic wildlife. Intimidation of journalists, including those covering environmental topics and the impact of extractive industries, has been happening repeatedly across Indonesia. Intimidation is often carried out by those in power, the government, oligarchs, and entities connected to public policy. Repeated acts of such intimidation create a systematic deterrence, making journalists hesitant to cover critical resource-extraction zones. Meanwhile, without national and global media coverage, rural populations impacted by industrial mining lose critical visibility and leverage in negotiating basic rights and environmental protections.
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has condemned the harassment experienced by the ‘Journalist Trip Team’ as a form of intimidation that conflicts with the principles of press freedom. Furthermore, they are calling on several parties to take action, including: urging law enforcement officers to investigate the alleged intimidation and guarantee the safety of journalists and sources while reporting. Given the current state of democracy and human rights in Indonesia, such practices are highly likely to persist in the future, if there is no protection for journalists and press freedom itself.