Six policemen deny involvement in Bojong violence
Six policemen deny involvement in Bojong violence
Theresia Sufa and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Bogor/Jakarta
Six low-ranked police officers have denied involvement in
Monday's violent protest by locals opposing the presence of
Bojong waste treatment facility in Klapanunggal, Bogor regency,
West Java.
The officers -- Second Insp. Parlaungan Simatupang and Second
Brig. Ahmad Walyuhri of Cileungsi Police, and Second Brig. Asep
Saepul, Second Brig. Agus Gunawan, Second Brig. Sutopo and Second
Brig. Roh Mustapa Dewa Samudra of Bogor Police riot squad --
presented their statements to a police ethics committee hearing
on Friday.
However, the committee has yet to interrogate middle- and
high-ranked officers, including Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr.
Bambang Wasgito and Bojong Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad
Taufik, even though National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had
promised that the police would summon Bambang for questioning.
The six officers denied that they had been involved in beating
and kicking protesters although television footage and newspaper
reports showed the opposite.
"If we appeared to grab the protesters' hair, beat or kick
them, it was because they attempted to flee the scene when we
tried to arrest them," one of the officers said in the hearing,
presided over by Adj. Sr. Comr. Rastra Gunawan.
Dozens of uniformed policemen and policewomen also attended
the hearing to show support for their colleagues.
Another officer admitted that they had to use violence in
self-defense against protesters, who they claimed had carried
machetes and other sharp weapons.
"Despite their denials, we consider that the video footage and
news reports of the incident are sufficient to bring those
officers to this examination, referring to Article 4 (a) of
Government Regulation No. 2/2003 on disciplinary regulations for
Indonesian Police," Rastra said.
This article stipulates that police officers are obliged to
give their utmost to protect, secure and serve the public.
If it is proven that the officers violated discipline, they
could face a maximum sentence of 21 days in police custody, and
discharge from the force.
The incident started when thousands of villagers, supported by
several non-governmental organizations, staged a rally on Monday
to protest the planned trial of a waste treatment facility by
operator PT Wira Guna Sejahtera.
The rally turned violent after police officers guarding the
plant clashed with protesters who had vandalized the office and
cars at the plant.
Legislators have questioned the deployment of the Police
Mobile Brigade to secure the plant.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) have called on
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to apologize to the locals over the
bloody incident, claiming that his administration should also
bear responsibility.
"The trial of the Bojong plant was done because the Jakarta
administration repeatedly pressed the plant management to start
operating it," Fakta's chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan said.
He added the plant must be closed down since it violates Bogor
regency's master plan.
Tigor referred to a letter issued by former state minister of
the environment Nabiel Makarim on Dec. 4, 2003, which requested
the Bogor regency administration to relocate the plant to Nambo
village in accordance with the master plan.
Earlier on Thursday, the House of Representatives asked State
Minister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar to intervene in the
case on the basis of the alleged violation.
Bogor regency council as well as the West Java provincial
council recommended on Friday that the plant be closed as it
could spark further social unrest.