Police shoot four villagers in land rights dispute

Andi Hajramuni , The Jakarta Post , Takalar | Fri, 10/10/2008 6:12 PM | National

A man was severely wounded and three people injured when local police opened fire during a clash between the officers and Parang Luwara villages in Takalar, South Sulawesi, on Friday.

Daeng Tika, 35, was in critical condition after he was shot in the stomach. He was treated at the Makassar Bhayangkara Police Hospital. Three other victims, Daeng Bunga, 33, Ria, 25, and Daeng Tojeng, 38, suffer injuries from rubber bullet shots.

Villagers from three regency districts and state-owned sugarcane plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara are involved in a dispute over land rights.

The villagers demand that the company return the 4,500-hectare plot it rented because the contract has expired.

Villager Daeng Emba said the incident started when a group of police officer told 10 villagers, who were herding their cows in the plantation area, to get out off the land.

The villagers, he said, obeyed the order. Shortly after, however, another group of officers came and opened fire on the villagers who were walking off the land.

Takalar Police chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Chevy Ahmad Sopary said that he had ordered an investigation into the incident.

"I'll be responsible if my men are at fault," he said.

Last week, hundreds of armed residents who tried to occupy a part of the plantation were angered by the presence of three hundred armed police. The police were equipped with a water cannon and an armored vehicle to disperse the protesters.

PTPN has denied the villagers' claim and said the company had a land use certificate from the Takalar regency administration. (dre)

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