Soldiers attack police station, four injured

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

At least four people were injured, including two police officers, when dozens of Army soldiers attacked the Langkat Police station in Binjai regency, North Sumatra, on Sunday morning.

Dozens of soldiers from the Army's airborne battalion stormed the station at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, injuring two police officers, including chief of detectives Adj. Sr. Comr. Togu Simandjuntak, whose right ear was slashed by a bayonet wielded by one of the assailants.

Another police officer, Second Insp. M. Simbolon, suffered a stab wound to his hand.

Police officers responded by firing their weapons, wounding two attackers -- Chief Privates Rahmat and Hilal -- on their feet.

The two injured police officers are being treated at the Gleneagles Hospital in Medan, while the two soldiers were taken to the Bukit Barisan Military Hospital, also in Medan.

Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj. Gen. Idris Gassing said the attack was initiated by Chief Pvt. Rahmat, who was upset about the arrest of a civilian friend for drug possession.

Rahmat wanted his friend freed, which the Langkat Police refused to do. Angered by the officers' refusal, Rahmat gathered a number of fellow soldiers to attack the police station.

"The attack on the Langkat Police station was initiated by our personnel. That is clearly a big mistake," Idris told journalists on Sunday morning in Medan.

Idris said he had reported the incident to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, and in line with Ryamizard's policy of being tough on errant soldiers stern action, including discharge, would be taken against those involved in the attack.

"This is not the first such incident. Similar incidents continue to take place, so we want to take action that will shock recalcitrant personnel. We will discharge them," he said.

Idris said he had already apologized to North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Ansyad Mbai, who he said had expressed his forgiveness.

Quoting Ansyad, Idris said the attack may have been triggered by a lack of understanding or narrow-mindedness on the part of the assailants about the work of the police.

Idris also said that military and police leaders in Binjai regency had held a meeting to take preventive measures to stop any possible revenge attacks by police personnel.

"The coordination meeting involved the battalion commander, district military commander, police resort chief and Binjai administration officials, and they have agreed on measures to prevent the incident from spreading," he said.