Tommy Apriando was an investigative reporter based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He was a regular contributor for Mongabay, an environmental media website and was involved in several investigative reporting projects with Tempo, an independent media in Jakarta. In 2018, Tommy exposed corrupt practices by coal mine companies in East Kalimantan that abandoned their mining pit after operation. The open pit caused at least 33 children dead, most were drowned in the hole.

In 2019, Tommy was also involved as videographer and researcher for the viral documentary film “Sexy Killers”. The documentary focuses on coal mining in Indonesia and its impact on the environment. One month after the launch, the film has already reached 20 million viewers and growing. When he was not reporting, Tommy served as coordinator of the advocacy division in the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Yogyakarta.

In early 2020, Tommy passed away from complications of diabetes. He was 31. This is a huge loss for us and for the wider journalism community in Indonesia. Tommy was deeply passionate about the environment and driven by an innate urgency to expose wrongdoing.

Please read his work for Mongabay Indonesia and celebrate his legacy.