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.