KnE Social Sciences

Published date: Oct 31 2025

Journal Title: KnE Social Sciences

Issue title: The 8th Legal International Conference and Studies (LICS 2025): Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Law Through Economic & Business Management Practices

Pages: 284 - 296

DOI: 10.18502/kss.v10i27.20068

‎ Dahniartidahniarti@unissula.ac.idFaculty of Law, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA), Semarang

In the past, environmental law issues were in the civil realm starting from the emergence of the Trails Melter case between the United States and Canada. But the development of the era that feels that the world belongs to all, not the privatization of a particular country, has resulted in a consensus to form declarations to protect the environment; starting from Stockholm, then the Rio de Jeneiro Declaration, the Declaration in Japan, to the development of regulations in Indonesia up to Law Number 32 of 2009. This study critically examines the criminalization of community activists opposing the construction of The Rayja Hotel over the sacred Gemulo spring in Batu, Malang. This research used a qualitative case study methodology. It explores the tensions between environmental justice and state-sanctioned development and highlights the abuse of law through informal and formal legal mechanisms against public interest advocates. Primary data from interviews and secondary sources from theses and journal articles indicate that criminal charges and civil litigation are used to silence environmental dissent, in violation of Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection. The findings call for strengthened legal protection for environmental activism and an enforceable human rights framework for communities defending natural resources.

Keywords: criminalization, environmental defenders, justice

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