1. The mountain, the people and
the cement factory: Conflicts in
Sukolilo, Indonesia
Siti Rachma Mary Herwati and Tjahjono Rahardjo

2. Introduction
In early 2008 it was announced that a new
cement factory with a capacity of 2.5
million tons per year was going to be built
in Sukolilo district, Pati regency, Central
.Java, Indonesia
.This plan was met with opposing reactions

3. Introduction
• Those who support it say that this project will
improve the welfare of the people by creating
1000 new jobs, which will stimulate more
economic activities, bringing in more money and
creating more job opportunities.
• The new factory will also contribute significantly
to the government’s revenues.

4. Introduction
• Those who oppose it point out that the mining of
limestone at the Kendeng Mountains will dry up
half of the 87 springs which are vital for the
people’s livelihood.
• The job opportunities open for the local people
will only be menial, low-paying and low-security
ones.
• There is no guarantee that increases in
government revenues will benefit the people

5. Introduction
This has triggered conflicts
amongst the various interest
groups, which has continued even
after the plan was shelved

6. Where is Sukolilo?
Pati
Regency

7. Where is Sukolilo?
Sukolilo
District

8. The mountain

9. The mountain
The Kendeng limestone mountain range extends from
Grobogan, Central Java, to Bojonegoro in East Java. Part
of the mountain range within Kabupaten Pati stretches
approximately 35 kilometres. Many springs, caves,
underground rivers, and a rich variety of plants and
animals, are found here

10. The mountain
In Sukolilo alone there are 79 perennial springs and
24 caves which also have underground river
systems. These springs are the sources of potable
water for more than 8000 households.

11. The mountain
Kendeng is home to many kinds of vegetations
The vegetation diversity of North Kendeng makes
it a perfect habitat for many bird species and bats
producing phosphate fertiliser

12. The people
One of the strongest
opponents of the cement
factory is the Sedulur
Sikep community, also
known as the Samin
community.

13. The people
• The Sedulur Sikep are followers of
Ki Samin Suronsentiko (1859-1914)
who led a non-violent resistance
against the Dutch colonial
government.
• The Samin movement was a
reaction against colonial
government intervention in the lives
of people living around Java’s teak
forests.

14. The people
The Sedulur Sikep continue to be critical towards
the Indonesian government, and refuse to:
• use Bahasa Indonesia, and keep using Ngoko,
the egalitarian low-Javanese language.
• adhere to one of the five officially recognised
religions
• send their children to government sanctioned
schools and instead maintain their own
education system.
• adopt ‘modern’ farming methods and carry on
their traditional organic farming methods.

15. The people
• The Sedulur Sikep believe
amongst other things, that the
only way to make a living is by
cultivating the land; therefore,
they should not enter into other
trades.
• For the Sedulur Sikep community
saving the lime stone mountains
and its springs constitute no less
than saving their way of life.

16. The people
A Sedulur Sikep Wedding

17. The people
Some young Sedulur Sikeps

18. The people
The Sedulur Sikep are not the only
people who oppose the factory.
Besides the Sedulur Sikep, many
farmers, activists, intellectuals,
academics, politicians and
government officials are united in a
front called the Jaringan
Masyarakat Peduli Pegunungan
Kendeng (JMPPK, Community
Network for the Care of the
Kendeng Mountains).

19. The people
In this front, however, the
Sedulur Sikep have come in
to the forefront.
Gunritno, a younger
generation Sedulur Sikep, is
the chairperson of JMPPK

20. The people
JMPPK built up support to in an
effort to stop the construction of the
cement factory.
They organised peaceful protests,
made statements in the media,
visited locations around the PT
Semen Gresik’s plant in Tuban,
East Java and extended their
network into Grobogan, Blora, and
Kudus.

21. The people
And this is what they saw and heard
in Tuban:

22. The conflict
• Following the announcement of the planned
factory, it was found out that no environmental
impact assessment had yet been made.
• Meanwhile, a visit to its plant in Tuban was
organised by PT Semen Gresik for 14 village
chiefs, plus some media reporters, to see how
the factory has “improved the welfare” of the
people. After their visit they were expected to
campaign for the proposed factory.

23. The conflict
• Many new groups and
organizations supporting the
cement factory appeared.
• Banners and posters put up
by JMPPK were taken down.
• Stakes were stuck in plots
where the cement factory
was going to be built.
• Land speculators started to
buy land.

24. The 22 January 2009 incident
On January 22, 2009, a PT Semen
Gresik survey team came to the
village of Kedumulyo, though the
Governor of Central Java had
promised that there would be no
activity before a joint investigation
team was formed.
The village at that time was already
in a heated situation. There were
suspicions that the village head
was involved in shady land deals
with PT Semen Gresik.

25. The 22 January 2009 incident
• The villagers held four cars of PT
Semen Gresik along with their 13
passengers for about eight hours,
and made speeches expressing
their rejection of the cement factory .
• At 18:30 the police forcibly broke the
human barricade.
• In the chaos, an unknown person
threw stones at the cars, which
damaged two cars. Eventually, the
police arrested nine residents.

26. The 22 January 2009 incident
• The villagers held four cars of PT
Semen Gresik along with their 13
passengers for about eight hours,
and made speeches expressing
their rejection of the cement factory .
• At 18:30 the police forcibly broke the
human barricade.
• In the chaos, an unknown person
threw stones at the cars, which
damaged two cars. Eventually, the
police arrested nine residents.

27. Conclusion
Sustainable
Ecology Development
Economy Society