Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Muhammad Amin Saleh apologized to families of victims of last week’s deadly clash in Buol regency, Central Sulawesi, after the death toll from the unrest increased to eight.
“On behalf of myself and the police force, I extend my deep regret and apology for the way our men handled the incident,” Saleh said Saturday at the funeral of victim Supriyadi.
The local administration appealed for calm and asked residents to trust police to resolve the matter. In a swift response to the widely publicized incident, the National Police and the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) have sent delegates to investigate.
An unruly protest had been sparked by the death of motorcycle taxi driver Kasmir Timumun, who was detained by police after he was implicated in a road accident involving a police officer last Monday.
Police said Kasmir committed suicide, but residents believed he had been tortured to death, prompting angry residents to attack the police station last Wednesday. Six people were killed and 22 were injured when police opened fire on protestors with live bullets, eyewitnesses said.
The human rights commission has announced it found early evidence of gross violations of human rights in its preliminary investigations.
Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Comr. Kahar Muzakkir said four officers have been named suspects in the case, identified as Buol Police traffic unit chief First Insp. Jefry Pantouw, Biau Metro Police chief First Insp. Muzakir Butudoka, and officers Amirullah and James.
Rights activists in Jakarta called for a firm response from the National Police on Saturday. They criticized National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri for stopping short of stating that torture was a possibility.
Bambang’s statement regarding the incident had been overly cautious and unduly late, having been made only after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed concerns over the tragedy and ordered a thorough investigation last Thursday, Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Haris Azhar said.
National Human Rights Commission chief Ifdhal Kasim said Bambang, who will retire this October, was a weak leader, adding that the next National Police chief must have “strong leadership” and “inspire respect” from his subordinates by being a man of integrity.
“So that his men will see him as a figure to be reckoned with, and someone whose orders they must obey,” Kasim said.
The future police chief must have a clear vision on ways to reform the police force, something the public has long demanded, Ifdhal told The Jakarta Post.
“He must be able to reform the police,” Kasim said, adding that the future chief must have a proven concern for human rights.
Besides having human-rights-conscious leaders in the police, the police training program must also be reformed, Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) activist Neta S. Pane said.
The nine-month police recruit education program was too brief, he said, adding that as a consequence officers failed to gain an adequate knowledge of many important issues, such as human rights.
“[The program] must be at least two years long.” (gzl)
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