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Violent Land Dispute Between Indonesian Police and Farmers Caught on Tape
Nivell Rayda & Antara | July 28, 2010

A frame grab from a video apparently showing a police officer discharging his weapon in the air during an allegedly violent confrontation between police and farmers who claim their land in Bengkulu province is being taken by a state plantation company. A frame grab from a video apparently showing a police officer discharging his weapon in the air during an allegedly violent confrontation between police and farmers who claim their land in Bengkulu province is being taken by a state plantation company.
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peterR
6:20pm Jul 28, 2010

This really is just par for the course. A series of alleged human rights abuses by police officers across Indonesia are a result of a corrupt system implemented by the police, causing the force to side with business people and the wealthy elite, activists say. The police force is essentially driven by the pursuit of money and power. According to data collected by Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), up to 84 people nationwide have fallen victim to police criminalization and violence since January 2010.

In just two examples of police terrorism and brutality, Yusniar, a 45-year-old mother and palm oil farmer, was shot dead by police, while Disman, another farmer, is still in a critical condition after being shot by police.

The Indonesian Police are absolutely comparable to criminal organizations such as the infamous "Cosa Nostra" (Mafia). There is only one real difference between the Indonesian Police and the Mafia, the Mafia don't pretend to be responsible for law and order.

Recently the President was quoted as saying:

“My position is clear: I can’t and I must not intervene in the law. I trust the law to the hands of law enforcement authorities.” What a load of bollocks that is.

Of course no-body wants the President to intervene in the law, but people do expect of him to ensure that there is Law, and more importantly Justice. It has been said that SBY refuses to face up to mounting criticism of the police for personal reasons. He seems to be unable to accept what everybody else in the country knows, the police are a criminal force and very far removed from Law. Let us not forget that the police do fall directly under the Presidents authority, they are the Presidents Men.

There really is no excuse for the President. The police in this country are very obviously corrupt and criminally motivated. The only possible motive for SBY's pathetic response to the continued abuse by police forces in Indonesia is his own situation, his own safety. - personally believe that a leader of a nation, whether King, President, or First minister, should be prepared to sacrifice all, even their life for their people, I cannot see this commitment from Indonesia's President. One really only has to recall SBY's past reaction to danger: " I am a terrorist target, look at these pictures all of you". Basically the President of Indonesia is a bit of a pussy; hey, I can't say that, I'm a foreigner and might get thrown out. Screw it: SBY, why don't you prove to your people that you ain't just some soft pussy man?

marko1
4:57pm Jul 28, 2010

The police chief in an other article today said "everyone likes the police they are humanitarians" Im sure the ones that heard him say that must have burst out laughing in his face.........

golddust
4:02pm Jul 28, 2010

Why Indonesian law enforcement like to fight their own people?what a bunch of cowards.why don't they fight the enemy from the outside,lets see what kind a big men they are.

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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.