Today
Jakarta
- 31 °C
Other Publications
Four residents shot over land dispute
Andi Hajramurni , The Jakarta Post , Takalar | Sat, 10/11/2008 11:25 AM | The Archipelago
BITTER TALKS: Two officers from the South Sulawesi Police mobile brigade talk with local residents of North Pulongbangkeng district in a disputed part of a PT Perkebunan Rakyat XIV sugarcane plantation on Friday. JP/Andi Hajramurni
Police shot four residents of a village in South Sulawesi on Friday during a rally over the ownership rights of a plantation plot.
The villagers from Parang Luwara village, Takalar regency, protested at the plot managed by state-run plantation-firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) XIV.
One resident, Tika, 35, was seriously injured when she was shot in the stomach, and was taken to Bhayangkara Police hospital in Makassar for treatment.
Three other victims, Bunga, Ria and Daeng Tojeng, were shot with rubber bullets during the rally and received minor wounds.
Witness Daeng Emba, said the shooting occurred at around 9:00 a.m. at Block S inside the sugarcane plantation, not far from the residential area.
Allegedly 10 Parang Luwara villagers were discussing the disputed land while tending their cattle when police arrived and demanded they move on.
"We had a good conversation with those police officers. But suddenly, a truck of fully armed police came and forced us off with their guns," said Emba.
Residents said they began to leave when police opened fire on them.
Daeng Tojeng, one of the victims, said he argued with one of the police officers intimidating him.
When he turned to leave, he heard a shot and felt something hot strike his elbow.
"I was so surprised. I then examined my elbow and found a small red wound here," said Tojeng, showing the wound.
Takalar Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Chevy Ahmad Sopari said he would investigate the incident.
"I will take responsibility for the incident if my officers are found guilty," he said.
Earlier in the week, hundreds of residents claiming ownership of the land occupied the plot and demanded its return.
Residents claim the company had rented the land from them in 1980, but later the company claimed it had in fact bought the land from the residents.
A series of rallies have been held for several months by residents from North Pulongbangkeng, South Pulongbangkeng and Mangarabombang in Takalar regency.
