TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Military brutality caught on camera
Change Size
CCTV footage shows Indonesian Air Force personnel committing acts of violence during a clash with Sari Rejo residents in Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday. (thejakartapost.com/Apriadi Gunawan)
A
cts of violence by Indonesian Air Force personnel during a clash with residents of Sari Rejo subdistrict, Medan Polonia district, on Monday, were recorded by a CCTV camera at Al-Hasanah Mosque on Jl.Teratai, Medan, North Sumatra.
In the CCTV footage lasting several minutes, unidentified Air Force personnel were seen damaging a donation box at the mosque and beating local residents.
At least 10 civilians were injured in the clash, which was reportedly triggered by a land dispute. Some of the residents suffered gunshot wounds.
According to several witnesses, the clash began after Sari Rejo residents staged a protest against Air Force personnel guarding disputed land by blocking a road in front of state senior high school SMU Negeri 2 on Jl.Adi Sucipto, Medan, on Monday. They burned tires to block the road.
Several airmen strove to extinguish the fire, during which they also reportedly attacked a civilian.
Junaidi, a Sari Rejo resident, said angered by the violence, several residents fought with the airmen, which eventually led to a massive clash between them.
Two on duty journalists, Array Argus of local newspaper Tribun Medan and Andri Syafrin of MNC TV, were injured after they were allegedly beaten by several airmen during the clash.
Soewondo Air Force base spokesperson Maj.Jhoni Tarigan said the violence toward the two journalists and Sari Rejo residents was done in retaliation. He said the residents had provoked the military personnel, forcing them to take tough measures against the anarchic acts. (ebf)
