Indonesian activist faces threats but refuses to back down on environmental fight: Video
In the face of mounting threats and physical assaults, Indonesian environmental activist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan remains resolute in his fight to protect the environment.
Daniel, a prominent figure in the #SaveKarimunjawa movement, has been at the forefront of exposing illegal shrimp farms operating within the protected Karimunjawa National Park.
Despite threats and assault meted out to him, Daniel is committed to environmental justice. In an interview with AFP, Daniel shared that giving up on his activism means letting everyone down.
"If we give up or back down, it means we are giving up on our future. We, I, and everyone else will be saying goodbye to our future because we will quickly lose our home," he said.
In the case of assault and threats, Daniel said, "I had some neck and shoulder discomfort for a few days, but it was not too severe. I also received threats via WhatsApp and social media, but nothing life-threatening. My friends, however, received death threats."
In April 2024, he was sentenced to seven months in prison and fined for a Facebook post criticising the environmental damage caused by these illegal farms.
His conviction, however, was overturned by the Semarang High Court in May 2024. The court recognised that his actions were in defence of the constitutional right to a healthy environment.
