MP praises swift police response to clash in Batam
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Rizki Faisal, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), has praised the police for their swift action in securing and controlling the situation following a clash in Setokok, Batam City, Riau Islands Province.
He asked the Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) and the Barelang Resort Police not to focus solely on handling the aftermath, but also to strengthen preventive measures to anticipate further clashes.
“Polda Kepri and Polresta Barelang need to keep strengthening preventive measures. There must be no acts of retaliation or follow-up clashes that would cause the problem to spread further,” said Rizki in a statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to him, the authorities need to tighten security at the scene of the incident as well as at points with the potential to become sources of further conflict. He also urged the authorities to enforce the law firmly, measurably, professionally and objectively against those proven to have been involved in the clash.
“But the process must remain professional, objective and based on evidence. This is important so that the public receives a sense of justice as well as legal certainty,” he said.
Rizki stressed that resolving the root of the problem is essential if the clash is related to a long-standing land dispute. Every legal matter, he said, must be settled through available mechanisms rather than through violence.
“If there is a problem or dispute, resolve it through legal channels. Not with violence. The state has legal mechanisms to settle every problem,” he said.
Beyond law enforcement, he asked the authorities and all stakeholders to build communication with the community and the parties in dispute.
He also reminded the public not to be easily provoked by unverified information, especially narratives that could inflame the situation.
“What we must protect is not only today’s situation, but also ensuring this problem does not leave behind new conflicts in the future. The public must feel safe, and every problem must be resolved through the law,” said Rizki.
Previously, the Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) together with the Barelang Resort Police questioned around 10 witnesses over the riot that occurred in the Setokok area of Batam City, which left two people dead on Monday (14/8).
Riau Islands Police Chief Inspector General Asep Safrudin explained that the questioning was carried out on the two groups involved in the riot so that the case could be followed up in accordance with applicable law.