Five people missing after Bojong protest

The Jakarta Post, Bogor/Bandung/Jakarta

Five residents of Bojong village, Klapanunggal district, West Java, are still missing after a violent protest on Monday against the planned trial of a waste processing facility.

The Bogor Council recommended on Wednesday the temporary closure of the disputed plant.

Residents identified four of the missing villagers as Sanan, Naim, Hariyanto and Adang. They said all four were taken away by the police after the protest on Monday.

"We have checked at the Bogor Police office and local hospitals but we have been unable to locate the missing residents," said Samsul Bachri of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute.

One resident, Ontin, earlier notified the National Commission on Human Rights that her husband Dudung was missing.

The protest on Monday turned violent when police opened fire on residents, wounding six.

A group of 21 non-governmental organizations monitoring the case said police were still searching for additional suspects and had detained two more residents.

"The police released 18 of 37 people arrested for allegedly provoking the violence after we negotiated with them. Nineteen others, including two teenagers, are still being held," said activist Maruli Saragih.

In a marathon session attended by Bogor deputy regent Albert Pribadi and Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Raufik, the Bogor Council recommended the closure of the plant "while we evaluate it with representatives of plant operator PT Wira Guna Sejahtera and the Jakarta administration", council speaker Rachmat Yasin said.

West Java Governor Danny Setiawan said he and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso had agreed to attempt to convince Bojong residents into accepting a one-month trial for the plant.

The residents believe the facility, designed to process waste from Jakarta and Bogor, will cause health problems and damage the environment.