Human rights body says three people died in Bima incident

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said Monday that three people, not two, were killed during a clash between local police officers and residents in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara on Saturday.

The casualties had been identified as Arif Rahman, 19, Syaiful, 17, and Arifuddin A. Rahman.

“That was the latest information we have received,” Commission chairman Ifdal Kasim told a press conference at his office.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution initially said that two people, Arif and Syaiful, perished during the incident after police reportedly fired into a crowd in an attempt to disburse protesters.

The protesters were demanding the revocation of the PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN) mining permit due to environmental concerns.

The Bima Police named 47 people as suspects on Sunday.

Ifdhal said the problem began at the beginning of the year when locals voiced concerns that SMN’s mining concession, which covers 24,980 hectares, would drain water used for irrigation and might also discourage traditional miners. (rpt/swd)