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AKARTA: Politicians have claimed that the incident in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, in which two protesters were gunned down by police officers, indicated that the mining operation in the regency had high-level backing and should be subject to investigation.

Legislator Sutan Bhatoegana of the Democratic Party said he would propose the setting up of a special team to launch an inquiry into the incident. “Because fatal incidents have not only happened in Bima but in other regions as well,” he was quoted by Antara on Thursday.

One crucial issue that should be examined is the composition of share ownership in the mining company PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara (SMN). The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has also called for a thorough investigation of the incident.

Previously it was reported that Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik had requested West Nusa Tenggara administration to revoke the mining permit of PT SMN following the fatal incident.