Residents clash with Royal Sentul security guards<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Villagers from Sumur Batu in Cibarengkok
\nsubdistrict in Bogor clashed with security guards of a housing
\nestate developer over a land dispute on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
At least six of the locals were reportedly injured in the
\nclash involving dozens of residents and about 50 armed security
\nguards of the exclusive Royal Sentul housing complex.<\/p>\n
Two people were severely hurt, residents said.<\/p>\n
The residents accuse the developer of blocking the main access
\nroute of the villagers through their residential area. Bulldozers
\nwere allegedly used to dump soil around the entrance to prevent
\nthe villagers passing through.<\/p>\n
They also said one of the company's bulldozers damaged a
\nmakeshift tent for construction workers who were hired by the
\nvillagers to build a mosque near the housing complex.<\/p>\n
An executive manager of the developer, Rudi Wahyu, told The
\nJakarta Post on Thursday that the excavation work was conducted
\nin preparation for construction of new houses on the plot near
\nthe semicompleted mosque.<\/p>\n
\"We didn't disrupt the construction work of the mosque at all
\nand we closed no road which was used to enter the village,\" Rudi
\nadded.<\/p>\n
With shovels and hoes in their hands, the residents, led by a
\nman called Asmuni, walked to the site to clear the mound of soil.<\/p>\n
On the way, they were stopped by the housing complex's
\nsecurity guards who brandished various sharp weapons, including
\nswords and machetes, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
The group of security guards was reportedly led by Ujang
\nSyahrial, Ujang Subandi and Mathius.<\/p>\n
After blocking the residents, one of the three men yelled at
\nthe villagers: \"Do you want war or peace?\"<\/p>\n
As he spoke, the other security guards held Asmuni's neck and
\npointed three machetes at his hands and body, the witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Asmuni's son, Asep, tried to free his father but was
\nreportedly dragged away by other security guards and beaten.<\/p>\n
Witnesses added that other residents and the mosque workers
\nran in different directions in an attempt to escape, but the
\nguards continued to chase them.<\/p>\n
One of those hurt was identified as Okto Wibawa, one of two
\nlocal residents who donated their land located near the housing
\ncomplex for the mosque.<\/p>\n
He is hospitalized with severe head and chest injuries in the
\nWest Java capital of Bandung.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Citeureup Police subprecinct First Lt. Deddy K.
\nconfirmed the incident and said the case was being handled by
\nBogor Police.<\/p>\n
He said three security guards were questioned by the police.<\/p>\n
\"We arrived there when the clash still taking place and we
\ndeeply regret what happened,\" Deddy said.<\/p>\n
Asked for further comment, Rudi said the company was
\nconsidering the fate of the security guards.<\/p>\n
He said the company would defend the guards if it was shown
\ntheir actions followed a direct order from the firm.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, he said, they would be severely punished.<\/p>\n
\"We're still discussing it,\" Rudi said.<\/p>\n
The housing complex is owned by PT Royal Sentul Highlands, in
\nwhich Bambang Trihatmodjo, one of former president Soeharto's
\nson, was president director and businessman James T. Riyadi an
\nadvisor. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-clash-with-royal-sentul-security-guards-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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