Residents clash with Royal Sentul security guards

JAKARTA (JP): Villagers from Sumur Batu in Cibarengkok subdistrict in Bogor clashed with security guards of a housing estate developer over a land dispute on Wednesday.

At least six of the locals were reportedly injured in the clash involving dozens of residents and about 50 armed security guards of the exclusive Royal Sentul housing complex.

Two people were severely hurt, residents said.

The residents accuse the developer of blocking the main access route of the villagers through their residential area. Bulldozers were allegedly used to dump soil around the entrance to prevent the villagers passing through.

They also said one of the company's bulldozers damaged a makeshift tent for construction workers who were hired by the villagers to build a mosque near the housing complex.

An executive manager of the developer, Rudi Wahyu, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the excavation work was conducted in preparation for construction of new houses on the plot near the semicompleted mosque.

"We didn't disrupt the construction work of the mosque at all and we closed no road which was used to enter the village," Rudi added.

With shovels and hoes in their hands, the residents, led by a man called Asmuni, walked to the site to clear the mound of soil.

On the way, they were stopped by the housing complex's security guards who brandished various sharp weapons, including swords and machetes, witnesses said.

The group of security guards was reportedly led by Ujang Syahrial, Ujang Subandi and Mathius.

After blocking the residents, one of the three men yelled at the villagers: "Do you want war or peace?"

As he spoke, the other security guards held Asmuni's neck and pointed three machetes at his hands and body, the witnesses said.

Asmuni's son, Asep, tried to free his father but was reportedly dragged away by other security guards and beaten.

Witnesses added that other residents and the mosque workers ran in different directions in an attempt to escape, but the guards continued to chase them.

One of those hurt was identified as Okto Wibawa, one of two local residents who donated their land located near the housing complex for the mosque.

He is hospitalized with severe head and chest injuries in the West Java capital of Bandung.

Chief of the Citeureup Police subprecinct First Lt. Deddy K. confirmed the incident and said the case was being handled by Bogor Police.

He said three security guards were questioned by the police.

"We arrived there when the clash still taking place and we deeply regret what happened," Deddy said.

Asked for further comment, Rudi said the company was considering the fate of the security guards.

He said the company would defend the guards if it was shown their actions followed a direct order from the firm.

Otherwise, he said, they would be severely punished.

"We're still discussing it," Rudi said.

The housing complex is owned by PT Royal Sentul Highlands, in which Bambang Trihatmodjo, one of former president Soeharto's son, was president director and businessman James T. Riyadi an advisor. (emf)