In January 2018, Heri Budiawan a.k.a Budi Pego, a farmer slash environmental activist, was convicted to 10 months imprisonment. Budi was deemed guilty of endangering national security. The Court believed Budi organized an illegal rally against PT Bumi Suksesindo (BSI), the holders of gold mine operating license in Tumpang Pitu, Banyuwangi East Java. At the time of the incident, Budi supposedly allowed the spread of communism through flag-raising. In the stage of cassation, Budi’s punishment was aggravated to four years in prison, but until today the verdict has not been executed yet. Meanwhile, the residents still try to voice their rejection of the mining activities.
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