Military admits error in handling Jember farmers<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The Chief of the Brawijaya Military Command
\nsaid on Saturday that some of his soldiers violated procedures in
\nhandling the conflict between tobacco farmers and a state
\nplantation company in Jenggawah near Jember last August.<\/p>\n
In another startling admission by the military, Maj. Gen. Imam
\nUtomo promised that those responsible would be punished in
\naccordance with military law.<\/p>\n
He did not say how many soldiers were involved or which
\nprocedures were violated.<\/p>\n
The military also admitted last year to procedure violations
\non at least two occasions: once in East Timor, which led to the
\ndeath of five civilians, and again in Irian Jaya, where 16
\ncivilians were killed.<\/p>\n
Jenggawah farmers revolted last August when PTP XXVII, the
\nstate tobacco plantation company, decided not to renew the
\nfarmers' land leases. The angry farmers, who had been tilling the
\nland for generations, set fire to the company's office and
\nstorerooms.<\/p>\n
Several of the farmers believed to be behind the violence were
\narrested, but later released without being charged.<\/p>\n
Imam Utomo said that he had ordered the Malang military chief
\nCol. Affandi, whose jurisdiction encompasses the Jenggawah area,
\nto gather ulemas and community leaders in Jenggawah and to
\napologize for the behavior of the soldiers.<\/p>\n
\"This holy month of Ramadhan is an appropriate time to ask for
\nan apology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The procedural violations were committed by young, emotional
\nsoldiers who probably lost control, he said.<\/p>\n
The origin of the incident is related to the status of the
\nland, which has been disputed since the 1970s by about 1,000
\nfarmers and the state plantation company, which claims to have
\nthe title to the land.<\/p>\n
A precarious peace had been maintained in an agreement, under
\nwhich the farmers would plant tobacco and sell the produce to the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
This peace was disrupted last August when the company decided
\nto terminate the arrangement and seize the land.<\/p>\n
The land's status is still being negotiated. (15\/emb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-admits-error-in-handling-jember-farmers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }