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TNI chief apologizes for "strangle" comment over Rempang protests
TNI chief Yudo has apologized for his remarks in a viral video that appeared to suggest troops to use their bare hands against protestors on Rempang Island, saying that he had used the word "strangle" in the context of his childhood in a rural setting.
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Indonesian Military commander Adm. Yudo Margono (left) and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo ride an open-bed vehicle on Sept. 1, during a ceremony at National Monument Park in Jakarta to form the combined military-police security detail for the 43rd ASEAN Summit. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono has apologized for a statement that many deemed to be verbal violence directed against local residents who were protesting over a development project on Rempang Island, Riau Islands province.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Yudo said that when he used the word "strangle" in the context of dealing with the protesters, he was referring to TNI soldiers using their hands instead of firearms.
"I apologize. Once again, I apologize. People may have misunderstood what I said [in using] the word dipiting [strangle]. I was a country boy and when I was small, I used to do that a lot with my friends. It was harmless, because no weapons were involved," Yudo said, as quoted by Antara.
Yudo prompted a public backlash when video surfaced online, in which he addresses troops in response to a North Sumatra TNI commander’s request for reinforcements to deal with protesters on Rempang Island.
"If there are 1,000 people, then there should also be 1,000 soldiers, they should strangle them one by one. That should be over fast, no need to use weapons," the TNI chief tells TNI soldiers in the video.
Violence erupted last Monday on Rempang Island, located around 44 kilometers from Singapore, when around 1,000 demonstrators gathered to protest in front of the offices of the Batam Development Authority (BP Batam).
BP Batam and PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG) are managing the Rempang Eco-City megaproject in coordination with China’s Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd.
