JAKARTA – Indonesian police are looking into the sudden death of an official who fought against a controversial gold mine, following calls for an investigation.
Helmud Hontong, deputy regent of Indonesia’s remote Sangihe islands, died during a flight on Wednesday last week.
Rights groups said his death falls into a pattern of violence of people threatened for standing up for environmental rights.
According to the police, an initial autopsy points to a natural death of the 58-year-old politician.
While authorities said the suspected cause of death was a chronic illness and heart failure, police are doing additional investigations.
Hontong had been a strong critic of a 42,000 hectare gold mine project on his island.(BBC)
