An Indonesian state-sanctioned but independent human rights commission has told Japan to carefully review a controversial $4 billion thermal power plant project funded by a joint consortium because human rights violations in the land acquisition process have been uncovered.
"We asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and (the Japanese) parliament to seriously review Japan's involvement in this project," Dianto Bachriadi, commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, said in a recent interview, revealing that official letters were sent to both on Dec. 21.
"We didn't say that we reject the project. We didn't say that we didn't agree with Japan's investment, but (we want to say) please, respect human rights when investing in Indonesia," he said.