Four dead as police and protesters battle in South Sumatra

Yuliasri Perdani and Ansyor Idrus, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Palembang | Headlines | Wed, May 01 2013, 9:19 AM

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Inflamatory situation: Residents observe the wreckage of cars near Rupit Police precinct, Musi Rawas regency in South Sumatra on Tuesday. Four people were killed, police posts set on fire and cars destroyed after a protest calling for the formation of a new regency turned violent late on Monday. (Antara/Feny Selly)

The National Police say two senior generals have been sent to investigate the deadly clash on Tuesday between protesters and police officers in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra.

General Supervision Inspectorate chief Comr. Gen. Imam Sudjarwo and Internal Affairs Division (Propam) chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan will lead investigators probing the deaths of four civilians during a rally in favor of a new regency in the north of Musi Rawas.

National Police Insp. Gen. Suhardi Alius said that Musi Rawas Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Barly Ramadani and local officials moved to disperse the crowd, which started to gather on Monday evening and blocked the Trans-Sumatra Highway.

“They brought kecepek [homemade guns] and machetes. At around 9:30 p.m. on Monday night, the mob started throwing things at our personnel. Our members then started to react,” Suhardi said.

The situation continued to deteriorate, with demonstrators setting fire to two police cruisers at Rupit police station later in the evening.

A witness identifying himself as Eka said that the police fired shots as the protesters ran amok.

“The police fired shots until they ran out of bullets. And then the mob fought back.”

Four people reportedly died from gunshot wounds in the clash: Son, 35; Fadilah, 40; Suharto, 20; and Rinto, 18. Five police officers were injured.

Dozens of injured protesters were taken to Sobirin Hospital in nearby Lubuk Linggau for treatment.

Suhardi promised a thorough investigation of the deaths. “We will be transparent in investigating the case in order to find out who was involved in the clash.”

Tension remained high in Musi Rawas on Tuesday night, as protesters continued to block the highway, which connects major cities in Sumatra.

A representative of the South Sumatra Police said that five platoons from the provincial Police Mobile Brigade special operations unit had been deployed to the regency.

“We have not yet arrested any suspects, because we are still focusing on restoring order in the area around the Trans Sumatra Highway,” South Sumatra Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. R Djarot Padakova said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a representative of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said that the commission would launch its own investigation of the deaths.

Komnas HAM commissioner Nurcholis said that the commission would talk with local leaders and relevant institutions to discover the roots of violence.

Following the clash, South Sumatra Legislative Council (DPD) member Abdul Azis called on the House of Representatives to expedite creation of North Musi Rawas regency.

“The proposal was submitted three years ago. Now, we are just waiting for House Commission II to give its approval,” Abdul said. Commission II oversees regional autonomy, among other issues.

The House previously said that it could not approve the formation of a new regency following a moratorium issued by the Home Ministry that expires in 2015.

Azis said that formation of the district had been met by opposition from politicians who did not want to lose control of Suban IV, a region rich with natural gas.

Earlier this year, South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin stated that Suban IV was a concession of Musi Banyuasin regency.

Earlier in March, almost a hundred soldiers from a training center in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu, attacked the police offices in connection with the killing of a soldier in January.

The assault was triggered by a false rumor that Brig. Wijaya, a traffic policeman who shot First Pvt. Heru Oktavianus, had been sentenced to five years in jail. In fact, the local police were still preparing the case dossier.

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