Resident killed in clash over land in Lampung

A land dispute between an oil palm company in Tanjungraya district, Mesuji, Lampung, and local residents led to a clash on Thursday evening in which one person was killed and six others injured.

Jaelani, 45, of Kagungandalam village, died instantly from a gunshot wound to the head, while Muslim was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the calf.

The five other injured victims, Rano Karno, 5, Irun, 6, Reli, 18, Mat Tahan, 16 and Robin, 15, are being treated at home in Sritanjung village.

The clash between residents of the five villages of Sritanjung, Kagungandalam, Nipahkuning, Pagardewa and Sungaimenang broke out when they were protesting the arrest of a villager and the occupation of land they claimed was theirs by PT Barat Selatan Makmur Investindo (BSMI).

A Sritanjung villager, Bahrudin, said the clash followed the arrest of Hendri, a Sritanjung villager who was harvesting palm oil on his farm, which the company claims it owns, with another resident.

The situation around BSMI remained tense as of noon Friday. Activities were at a standstill at the office, while residents were guarding their respective village boundaries.

Tulangbawang Police chief Adj. Comr. Shobarmen said he had withdrawn all of his men at the BSMI premises to the Simpangpematang Police station, located 15 kilometers away. He declined to comment why the police were securing BSMI and had fired upon residents.

Acting Mesuji regent Albar Hasan Tanjung said his office had strived to help resolve the land dispute between residents and BSMI but had found it difficult because each party was adamant that the land was theirs.

“We will make strenuous efforts until a new regent is appointed by the end of the month,” said Tanjung.

Bandarlampung Legal Aid Institute (LBH) director Indra Firsada has strongly protested the involvement of the police in the dispute.

Indra said the police should not side with a company against residents in a conflict. “This is exactly what is happening in Lampung.”

He added that Bandarlampung LBH data showed that members of the police had been made agents of a palm oil company in a conflict that had claimed the lives of a number of residents between 1999 to 2001. “So, this is not the first time.”

He added that the involvement of the police in securing a business was prone to human rights violations. “That’s why we will urge the National Commission on Human Rights to immediately investigate the incident,” he said.