A lawyer, a university lecturer and seven residents were arrested by the police after a clash that followed a land execution order in Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.

Lawyer Julianer Aditia Warman and Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk lecturer Ade Putra were accused of provoking residents to defy the police and military personnel, said Banggai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Pramukarno.

The seven residents -- Edwar Steven, Amran Saputra, Raden Mushodi, Suwardian Amir, Atis, Salmin and Tamrin -- were arrested for allegedly throwing stones at the police and the military personnel, he added. The police also claimed the residents were armed with Molotov cocktails and sharp weapons.

Muhammad Sidik Djatola, a lawyer, said Julianer was arrested after a press conference. “He was there as the residents’ lawyer. There was no reason for the police to take him.”

Human rights and environmental activists in Palu said they would protest against the land execution and the arrests. The lawyers claimed the land execution, which was ordered by the Luwuk District Court, was flawed. They said the order originated from a dispute that did not involve the protesting residents’ lands.

Before his arrest, Julianer said the dispute was over 600 square meters of land. The title holder submitted a land execution request to the court for 6 hectares land and the court issued the order, he added. (evi)