FoE Indonesia director beaten and detained

Friends of the Earth is concerned about the arrest of the regional director of WALHI (FoE Indonesia) South Sumatra by the South Sumatra Regional Police on January 29, 2013.

We believe that the arrest and persecution of Anwar Sadat is linked to efforts to assist peasants by WALHI Sumatera Selatan in Betung village, Distric Lubuk Keliat, Ogan Ilir regency, South Sumatra Province. A number of peasants questioned the arrest and the persecution of some peasants, including mosque vandalism by Police, on January 25, 2013
 
This incident occurred on January 29, 2013 at 04:30 pm, when police forces moved to disperse a crowd of local people who were rallying in front of the police headquarters. Anwar was supporting several farmers from the village of Betung in the Ogan Ilir district. They were  demonstrating against the state-owned plantation firm PTPN VII Cinta Manis over a land dispute.

The police beat and arrested Anwar Sadat, South Sumatra Walhi Executive Director and subsequently arrested and assaulted at least other 25 people. Anwar was not given first aid treatment and, instead, kept under arrest.

Please support the call for the release of Anwar, through this On Line Petition :  www.change.org/ReleaseAnwar

Thanks for your Help

[photo was taken shortly after Anwar's arrest]