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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an investigation into the alleged mass killings in Mesuji, Lampung and parts of South Sumatra, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said.

“The President has ordered National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto to gather facts on the Mesuji case. He also ordered the police to form a special investigation team to look into the problem and find the best solution for all,” he said on Thursday.

Julian said that the probe would involve representatives from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), as well as members of the local community.

On Thursday, dozens of Mesuji residents expressed their grievances to the House of Representatives over the alleged constant violence and intimidation instigated by a local plantation company. Locals claimed that police and military personnel were part of the group of assailants.

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Saurip Kadi, a member of the Mesuji residents’ advocacy team, said at least 32 villagers had been killed since 2008.

Locals said the latest incident took place in Mesuji regency, Lampung, in November, involving disputes between locals and palm oil and natural rubber plantation firm PT Silva Inhutani Lampung.

Video recordings played at a House session on Wednesday showed violence taking place last April in Mesuji District, Ogan Komering Ilir regency in South Sumatra.

The violence also involved local farmers and palm-oil plantation company PT Sumber Wangi Alam (SWA). In the clash, two villagers and five company employees were reported dead.

In one video, obtained by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, a man was shown being beheaded by an unidentified man dressed in black. The assailants were seen toting rifles and wearing black masks.

In the second video, a headless corpse was seen hanging from a pole while several other mutilated bodies were seen strewn on the ground.

“They intentionally put the heads in an open space to terrorize local farmers,” said Bob Hasan, a lawyer for the Mesuji local community.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar denied that police officers were involved in the incident. He, however, admitted the rifle-toting men in black were in fact members of the Mobile Brigade.

“But they were not the ones who beheaded the people. The police came after the beheading,” he said.

Boy did not give an explanation on why the officers wore masks. “The beheaded men were not locals. They were employees of SWA who failed to escape after an angry mob of local people attacked the firm’s camp.”

Boy accused some “irresponsible” parties of having doctored the footage.

He added that the police had launched a probe into the killings and named six suspects. “Eight other suspects are still at large,” he said

Komnas HAM chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the police and the companies must share the blame for the Mesuji killings.

“There have been numerous international agreements, such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which order companies not to use security measures that could lead to human rights violations,” Ifdhal said.