Indonesian women farmers win historic legal victory against zinc mining company after two-decade fight

In a groundbreaking environmental justice case, a group of women farmers in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has successfully challenged a zinc mining operation after a 20-year legal battle that began with village rumors in 1996. Led by Rainim Purba, who was in her mid-30s when she first heard whispers about mining plans near her village of Pandiangan, the women spearheaded a lawsuit that would ultimately set a crucial legal precedent in Indonesia.

The mining company PT Dairi Prima Mineral (PT DPM) initially promised local residents jobs and economic opportunities when they arrived in the region. However, according to community activists, villagers were never properly informed about the serious environmental risks the project posed. Most concerning was the company’s plan to construct a tailings dam in an area prone to earthquakes, landslides, and unstable volcanic ash deposits—a combination that could prove catastrophic for local communities.

The women farmers’ persistence paid off when their lawsuit succeeded in court, with 11 villagers joining the legal challenge. In May 2025, Indonesia’s environment ministry followed through on the court ruling by revoking PT DPM’s environmental permit. This decision marked a historic first for the country: it confirmed that environmental permits created under Indonesia’s controversial 2020 law can indeed be legally challenged and overturned.

The victory demonstrates the power of grassroots environmental activism and establishes an important precedent for future cases where communities seek to protect their land and livelihoods from potentially harmful industrial projects.