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Jakarta. Indonesia Corruption Watch have reacted strongly to reports that police in Bengkulu Province sexually harassed and physically abused 50 villagers in Seluma district as they protested against what they claim is a land grab by the state.

ICW activist Tama Satrya Langkun, recently in the headlines after he was beaten by unknown assailants after reporting a number of senior police generals to the Corruption Eradication Commission, said they had received concerning reports of a clash between farmers from Pering Baru village and Seluma Police on Friday.

He alleged that police had sexually harassed six women, injured 20 farmers and arrested 21 people in the incident.

The villagers were protesting against state plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VII in a land dispute.

On Tuesday, six women from the village laid charges of sexual harassment against the officers with Bengkulu Police’s Bureau of Professionalism and Security Affairs (Propam).

Zenzi Suhadi, deputy director of the Bengkulu branch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), told state news agency Antara that the officers forced the women to take off some of their clothes.

“The police officers forced them to strip in front of their children and their parents. It was obviously harassment,” he said.

Part of the incident was filmed and uploaded on Youtube. It is titled “kekerasan & pelecehan seksual aparat terhadap rakyat di bengkulu.”

The video also shows police filming the incident. Gunfire can also be heard and at least one officer is filmed discharging his weapon in the air.

The women can be seen removing outer garments.

Walhi also alleged that a number of police officers physically abused several locals.

Zenzi said one man, identified as Tahuin, was reportedly beaten by three officers.

“Another local named Subir was strangled and repeatedly kicked by four policemen until he passed out, while another man, named Yuyun, was beaten by three officers.” he said.

Walhi activists Firmansyah and Dwi Nanto, who assisted the locals during the rally, were arrested along with 18 farmers.

They were taken to Bengkulu Police headquarter and have been named suspects for allegedly obstructing the activities of PTPN VII.

“What really happened was that PTPN VII stole the land owned by locals and physically abused the people who were protecting their property,” Zenzi said, adding that he had reported the case to the National Commission for Human Rights and had prepared a legal team to defend the farmers and Walhi activists.

Meanwhile, Usman Hamid from Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said Kontras regretted the incident.

"Similar incidents occur from time and time and there seems to be no improvement whatsoever in the handling of government officials and law enforcers. Protesters are only armed with their passionate words and pieces of picket fences but the government almost always responds with brute force," Usman told The Jakarta Globe.

"There must be a change in the operation procedures, a change which is more towards a persuasive approach and peaceful negotiation," Usman said, adding that "the government should also reform itself to address the root cause of the problem, which is the chaos of our land management system."

Representatives from PTPN VII were not available for comment.