Police to grill Bogor Police chief over clash<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Bogor<\/p>\n
The National Police will summon Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr.
\nBambang Wasgito for questioning, following the bloody incident at
\nJakarta's waste treatment plant in Bojong village, Bogor regency,
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
The statement was issued by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar on the sidelines of Thursday's hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives' Commission III overseeing security affairs.<\/p>\n
Da'i admitted police efforts to stop the violent protest had
\ngone awry, with six protesters wounded after officers fired live
\nammunition into the crowd.<\/p>\n
\"That is why we will make a thorough investigation of the
\nincident,\" Da'i said.<\/p>\n
Television news footage clearly showed police, who were
\nguarding the plant during the incident, opening fire to disperse
\nthe crowd after some of them tried to set the buildings on fire.<\/p>\n
Villagers had repeatedly protested the presence of the waste
\ntreatment facility operated by PT Wira Guna Sejahtera, saying the
\nplant would damage the environment and cause health problems.<\/p>\n
Legislator Trimedya Panjaitan said Bambang and Bojong Police
\nsubprecinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Taufik should be held
\nresponsible for the incident.<\/p>\n
He quoted residents who said that two weeks prior to the
\nclash, two trucks packed with officers from the police elite
\nMobile Brigade unit were seen patrolling the plant.<\/p>\n
\"Why did the police deploy the Mobile Brigade there? Has the
\ncompany specifically asked for security help from the unit?\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Police have arrested 37 villagers but already released 18 of
\nthem. Five others are still unaccounted for after they were taken
\naway by officers.<\/p>\n
A crowd of mostly women from Bojong village visited Bojong
\nPolice station on Thursday to meet family members being detained
\nthere.<\/p>\n
\"I had thought my husband had gone missing. I've just found
\nout from an NGO (non-governmental organization) that he has been
\ndetained here. I'm afraid he will be beaten up by the officers,\"
\nsaid Sulastri, the wife of Gunawan, who is in police custody.<\/p>\n
During the visit, the women called for police to release the
\nvillagers.<\/p>\n
While the residents strongly oppose the dump, Jakarta Governor
\nSutiyoso has said support for the project went as high as Vice
\nPresident Jusuf Kalla, who wanted the facility to begin
\noperations as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"The Vice President has instructed us to go ahead with the
\nplant,\" he said, without explaining Kalla's reasons for his
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
His statement, however, was at odds with the view of State
\nMinister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, who told the
\nHouse's Commission VII overseeing energy, mineral resources and
\nthe environment that the plant violated Bogor city's planning
\nlaws.<\/p>\n
\"(Bogor) Bylaw No. 27\/1998 stipulates the waste processing
\nplant should be located in Nambo village. Why did the local
\nadministration issue the permit to construct the facility in
\nBojong village instead?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The bylaw also states Bojong is designated a residential area.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, the commission urged the minister's office
\nto intervene the case.<\/p>\n
\"Since there is a violation in the construction of the plant,
\nthe minister's office must get involved,\" chairman Agusman
\nEffendy said.<\/p>\n
He also urged the Bogor administration to temporarily close
\nthe plant until the dispute was solved.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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