Komnas HAM to probe Bulukumba riot

Komnas HAM to probe Bulukumba riot

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
announced on Friday it would send a fact-finding team to look
into possible human rights violations in a recent incident in the
South Sulawesi regency of Bulukumba.

A man died and three others were injured after police opened
fire to disperse a crowd of farmers who ran amok at rubber
plantation firm PT London Sumatra in the remote regency on
Monday. The riot was triggered by a land dispute.

Komnas member Hasballah M. Saad told reporters the team is
expected to arrive in Bulukumba on Wednesday next week.

"We will investigate possible rights violations during the
incident," he said.

Police arrested and named 15 people suspects following the
incident and named 13 others who have not yet been arrested for
allegedly masterminding the protest.

The police have defended the officers involved in the fatal
shooting, saying they opened fire in self-defense. -- JP