Udayana Military Command Denies Intimidation Allegations Over Kopdes Merah Putih Development

The Udayana Regional Military Command (Kodam Udayana) has denied allegations of intimidation against residents, forced evictions, and damage to school facilities involving Indonesian Army (TNI AD) personnel in the controversy surrounding the construction of the Kopdes Merah Putih (KDMP) village cooperative in Neowula Village, Detusoko District, Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Head of Information for Kodam IX/Udayana, Colonel Inf Amrizal Nasution, explained that information claiming there were acts of violence or intimidation by TNI personnel did not match the facts on the ground. He stated in Denpasar that there were no acts of intimidation, physical violence, or forced eviction attempts by TNI personnel against the community or educational facilities at the location. According to Amrizal, the viral incident originated from a technical obstacle during the mobilisation of heavy equipment, an excavator, to the KDMP construction site on community-granted land behind SDN Neowula elementary school. He explained that adjustments were made by cutting a portion of a supporting pillar located in the access road area. This step had been coordinated beforehand with the Neowula Village Head and the School Committee so that the heavy equipment could pass without damaging the school’s main building. Village Head Vinsensius Papa also provided similar testimony, explaining that the access used was a village road adjacent to the school building, necessitating technical adjustments that would later be repaired. Regarding the presence of a non-commissioned officer at the scene, Amrizal asserted that Sertu Hermin was present at the request of the village head to assist with security and to mediate between residents to prevent tension and maintain a conducive situation. Kodam IX/Udayana also refuted narratives circulating on social media concerning forced evictions or acts of violence against the community. As a handling measure, all KDMP construction activities at the site have been temporarily suspended to allow room for a mediation process between the relevant parties. Furthermore, the pillar that had previously undergone technical adjustment has been repaired, the dug-up area has been tidied, and the heavy equipment has been removed from the location to avoid further misunderstandings.