Greenpeace Activists Detained After Protest Against Nickel Downstreaming

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three Greenpeace Indonesia activists and a Papuan woman were taken to the Grogol Petamburan Police Station after unfurling banners and delivering a speech about the impacts of nickel downstreaming during the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo at the Pullman Hotel, Central Park, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 3 June 2025.

Greenpeace has criticized the nickel industry for causing environmental degradation and sparking social tensions.

"The three are activists, and one is a woman from Papua. They are currently at the Petamburan Police Station," said Kiki Taufik, Head of Global Greenpeace for the Indonesian Forest Campaign, in an interview with Tempo.

As of now, the four individuals remain under police questioning, accompanied by lawyers from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD). "We have a lawyer team from TAUD, and they are still not (allowed to go home)," Kiki added.

Kiki said he was unsure who had filed the report that led to their detention. He emphasized that peaceful protest and public expression are fundamental rights. "It seems that the report came from the organizers, but the police still cannot prove what violation we committed. Expressing opinions in public is a right," he said.

Greenpeace clarified that all their members who attended the conference were officially registered through the event’s designated channels.

Kiki explained that after unfurling the banner and delivering a brief speech, the four individuals were first taken to a committee room for questioning before being escorted to the police station at around 12:30 or 1:00 p.m.

The incident occurred during the opening remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno, when several Greenpeace activists and four Papuan youths raised three yellow banners with bold black text. The messages included: “What’s the true cost of your nickel?”, “Nickel mines destroy lives”, and “Save Raja Ampat from nickel mining.”

A Papuan youth among them also gave a short speech: "The government is responsible for the environmental damage occurring in Raja Ampat, in Papua. Save Raja Ampat."

Similar banners were also displayed in the exhibition area. Kiki said Greenpeace timed their action to coincide with the presence of both government officials and industry stakeholders, arguing that the environmental toll of nickel mining is already visible in areas like Halmahera, Wawonii, and Kabaena.

“Mining has started in Raja Ampat, and five islands are already being excavated,” Kiki said at the Pullman Hotel. “This isn’t just any location—it’s a global geopark and a top destination for underwater tourism. Raja Ampat holds most of the world’s remaining vibrant coral reefs, and those ecosystems are now being threatened.”

He criticized the use of nickel downstreaming as part of the energy transition, arguing that it sacrifices both the environment and the well-being of local communities. According to Kiki, the people of Raja Ampat are repeatedly sidelined and exploited.

Greenpeace is calling on the Indonesian government to revoke the permits for nickel mining operations on five islands in Raja Ampat.

“Their land is being destroyed, their homes and resources taken away,” Kiki added. “There’s nowhere left for them to live, to gather food, or to sustain their livelihoods.”.

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