Soldier killed while mediating labor dispute<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Army officer, Chief Sgt. Ahmat Tohir, from
\nthe Jatiwaringin military subdistrict, in Bekasi, West Java, was
\nstabbed to death during a conflict resolution operation
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
He was the second Armed Forces officer to be killed on duty
\nthis month after a police officer, Chief Sgt. Kamino, was shot
\ndead Friday in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A Jakarta Military Command spokesman, Lt. Col. DJ Nachrowi,
\nsaid yesterday that Tohir was killed while helping two groups of
\nlaborers at Pondok Gede market solve an ongoing dispute.<\/p>\n
"Tohir was stabbed to death by a laborer named Hasan Usman,"
\nNachrowi alleged.<\/p>\n
"He died at the Haj Hospital in Pondok Gede about 9 a.m., not
\nlong after the incident, which occurred about 8:45 a.m."<\/p>\n
Nachrowi did not provide further details about the nature of
\nthe conflict or the officer's assignment at the market.<\/p>\n
He said military command, in conjunction with the Bekasi
\nPolice precinct, was still searching for Usman.<\/p>\n
Onlookers at the crime scene told journalists that Tohir was
\nescorting a group of laborers, known as the Kiara Group, which
\nwas led by Usman, to Bekasi Military Command.<\/p>\n
They said the group was to be given advice about how to solve
\ntheir problem with the Warga Jaya laborers group.<\/p>\n
The second group had accused the Kiara laborers of trying to
\ntake over the handling of loading and unloading activities at the
\nPondok Gede market, the onlookers said.<\/p>\n
"Tohir was riding his motorcycle behind a truck and a small
\nbus loaded with Kiara members," a witness, who asked for
\nanonymity, said. "They were passing along Jl. Jati Makmur when
\nUsman arrived in a Toyota Kijang."<\/p>\n
"I heard Tohir try to invite Usman to join with fellow
\nlaborers who were heading to military command.<\/p>\n
"Some of Usman's men jumped out of the truck to watch him and
\nTohir argue," he alleged. "Usman went back to his car then came
\nback with a machete and just slashed Tohir across his back and
\nneck."<\/p>\n
Nachrowi alleged Usman had attacked Tohir from behind.<\/p>\n
He said the staff at military command were mourning the death
\nof Tohir, who had served there for more than four years.<\/p>\n
Proud<\/p>\n
The National Police chief, Gen. Dibyo Widodo, praised
\nyesterday officers who died in the line of duty.<\/p>\n
"Many officers, including policemen, die while on duty. We are
\nvery proud of them because, despite the difficulties police face,
\nthey give everything that they have to accomplish their tasks,"
\nDibyo said.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on the death of Chief Sgt. Kamino who was
\nshot in the back on Friday morning during the arrest of an
\nalleged narcotics dealer at a low-cost apartment in Pejompongan,
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Kamino and a fellow police officer, identified only as Sgt.
\nMaj. Pa, were escorting a suspect, Boyke, to their car when Boyke
\ntried to run away and attacked the two officers, police said.<\/p>\n
Dibyo said Boyke was not handcuffed at the time, adding that
\nhandcuffing a suspect during an arrest was not compulsory.<\/p>\n
"Officers may not need to use handcuffs as long as they stay
\nalert and are able to prevent the suspect from running away or
\nattacking them," he said.<\/p>\n
Some media reports pointed to the possibility that Kamino may
\nhave been accidentally shot by Sgt. Maj. Pa during the scuffle
\nwith Boyke.<\/p>\n
Dibyo said the information that some people at the scene gave
\njournalists may have been incorrect.<\/p>\n
Police would continue their investigation into the officer's
\ndeath, including the allegation relating to Sgt. Maj. Pa, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"If there is evidence that suggests Pa was involved in the
\nshooting then, of course, he will be investigated," Dibyo said.<\/p>\n
"And, if he is deemed to be responsible, we will send him to a
\nmilitary court. But for now, we have to apply the presumption of
\ninnocence." (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldier-killed-while-mediating-labor-dispute-1447893297",
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