On Monday, 8 June 2026, SEKBER GOKESU (Joint Secretariat of the Ecumenical Movement for Ecological Justice in North Sumatra) facilitated the Environmental Day celebration in Natumingka Village, Bobor Sub-district, Toba Regency. Around 200 participants gathered in an open field beside a small pavilion. Attendees included residents of Natumingka and neighbouring Natinggir Village, clergy members, academics, church organisations, university students, and representatives of civil society organisations.
The event opened with a worship service led by Pastor Dani Simanjuntak. Drawing from Job 12:7-10, Pastor Simanjuntak invited participants to reflect on humanity’s relationship with nature. He emphasised that while the earth and its many species can survive without humans, human beings depend on nature for their survival. He called on the community to reconnect with nature and to use natural resources responsibly – taking only what is needed and ensuring that what is taken is replenished for the future generation.
Pastor Simanjuntak also reminded attendees that although the Indigenous Batak communities of Natumingka and Natinggir have long struggled for the closure of PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), whose operations caused significant environmental damage in their ancestral lands, their struggle is not yet over. These communities continue to face the consequences of ecological degradation and must work collectively to restore their lands, even without PT TPL’s contribution. Pastor Simanjuntak concluded his sermon by encouraging participants to remain steadfast in their efforts, emphasising that the voices of the poor, the oppressed, the marginalised, and the natural world are all worthy of being heard and defended.
Following the worship service, the event continued with a series of opening remarks. To start, the Head of the Indigenous Community of Natumingka expressed gratitude to all attendees and organisations whose support made the event possible. Pastor Walden Sitanggang, Chairperson of SEKBER GOKESU, noted that World Environment Day serves as a reminder that the pursuit of ecological justice remains ongoing. According to him, the closure of PT TPL should not serve as an endpoint, but as motivation to continue environmental conservation and ecological recovery efforts.
Pastor Sitanggang also highlighted the significance of the tree-planting activity planned for the day. While various species of seedlings had been prepared, he stressed that success should not be measured by the number of trees planted, but by the commitment of people to nurture and care for these plants over time. He encouraged communities to continue organising similar activities as a demonstration of their perseverance and collective commitment to ecological restoration.
Representatives from the National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (KN-LWF) and HKBP DIstrict IV Toba, while delivering their remarks, emphasised the important role of churches and faith-based organisations in supporting Indigenous Peoples’ movements and advancing the struggle for ecological justice.
The opening session concluded with remarks from Sorbatua Siallagan, representing the Indigenous communities of Natumingka and Nagasaribu. He expressed his enthusiasm for the event and described it as an important step in advancing ecological recovery efforts within Indigenous territories. Reflecting on his personal experience of imprisonment, Siallagan recalled a period when he had nearly lost hope. However, support from his family, friends, and broader community enabled him to persevere, and he was ultimately released without being convicted of any crime. Through this reflection, he encouraged Indigenous communities to continue defending their rights and protecting their ancestral heritage for future generations.
The discussion session formed the central activity of the day. Jhontoni Harihoran, the representative for AMAN Tano Batak, explained that the purpose of the discussion was to provide a space for Indigenous community members to share their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. Hilarius Sihombing, the discussion’s moderator, further reminded participants that the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia obliges the state to recognise and respect Indigenous Peoples and their rights. Therefore, he encouraged participants to speak openly and honestly about their experiences and reflections throughout the discussion.
We invited representatives from each Indigenous community – Nelson Simanjuntak from Natumingka and Rumenti Pasaribu from Natinggir – to reflect on their experiences leading their village’s struggles against PT TPL.
During his remarks, Nelson Simanjuntak spoke about Natumingka Village’s long and difficult struggle to defend its ancestral territory. He shared that while protecting his community’s land from PT TPL, he sustained injuries that left him blind in his right eye. Yet his sacrifice did not deter him from continuing the fight. As he stated, “Even though I’m blind in one eye, I will never be blind in protecting the creation that God has given us.” He urged the Indigenous communities to continue to defend and fight for their rights as Indigenous Peoples and safeguarding the ancestral lands inherited from their ancestors – the land that sustained their lives and the lives of generations to come.
Rumenti Pasaribu then reflected on Natinggir Village’s struggle against PT TPL. Despite having only 23 households, the community successfully defended its territory against a powerful conglomerate, demonstrating remarkable determination and resilience. Speaking as a woman human rights defender, Pasaribu offered a perspective rooted in women’s experiences and responsibilities within Indigenous communities. She highlighted the profound spiritual connection between women and ancestral land, a relationship that extends far beyond the symbolism of motherhood. Pasaribu emphasized that “as women, we must not remain silent. We are responsible for the environment we depend on and must continue building grassroots movements dedicated to environmental protection, trusting that God will always be with us.”
The remainder of the discussion featured reflections, encouragement, and strategic insights from civil society organizations. As long-time allies of these Indigenous communities, the organizations emphasized that the strength of collective struggle is what unites and sustains the movement.
Representing BRWA (Indigenous Territory Registration Agency), Roganda Simanjuntak observed that after four decades of destructive and unethical practices by PT TPL in the region, the eucalyptus tree has become a symbol of ecological destruction in Tano Batak (Batak Indigenous Territory). Rocky Pasaribu, representing KSPPM, provided a legal perspective on the current situation. He explained that following the revocation of PT TPL’s concession, the company no longer has the legal authority to station security personnel at its access gates, as both its movable and immovable assets have been taken over by the state through the Ministry of Forestry. He further noted that Indigenous communities are now permitted to remove eucalyptus trees, provided they replant diverse and beneficial species, thereby strengthening their stewardship and claims over the land.
In closing, academic representative Dimpos Manalu posed a thought-provoking question: “Where does the struggle truly end?” As discussed throughout the session, the closure of PT TPL is not the end goal but rather a milestone in the broader journey toward ecological recovery. If ecological restoration is an ongoing process, how should its success be measured? According to Manalu, the ultimate measure of success is prosperity. As long as communities have not yet achieved genuine well-being and prosperity, the struggle continues. He concluded by reminding participants that this movement must be grounded in solidarity: we cannot think only of ourselves. As long as others continue to suffer, we have a responsibility to stand with them.
Following the discussion, participants gathered for a communal lunch featuring meals prepared by the Indigenous communities of Natumingka and Natinggir. Afterward, as Pastor Walden Sitanggang announced, the World Environment Day celebration concluded with a tree-planting activity. Representatives and community members were invited to plant seedlings in locations suitable for their growth. Participants were also encouraged to bring seedlings home to nurture and care for, allowing them to grow into lasting symbols of hope and responsibility for future generations. With that final act of stewardship, the World Environment Day celebration came to a close.
