Indonesia: Disciplinary sanctions insufficient, says Komnas Ham

The National Commission on Human Rights says that any police officers found guilty in a recent clash in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, deserve more than disciplinary sanctions for their actions.

“Those found guilty should be punished, not only with administrative or disciplinary sanctions, but also criminal ones,” said Commission deputy chairman Ridha Shaleh.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution earlier said that five Bima Police officers could face disciplinary action for committing procedural violations in handling the protest in Bima.

One West Nusa Tengara Mobile Brigade officer has been charged with beating a protestor with a weapon, while four Bima Police officers were accused of beating and kicking protestors from behind.

Ridha demanded the National Police conduct an independent investigation into police who were present at the scene, including the West Nusa Tenggara and Bima Police chiefs, who he said were partly responsible for the violence that had occurred.

“The commanders and police superiors who did not prevent [such violence from happening] and even let their men commit violence, should also be questioned and legally processed [in a civil court],” he said.

On 24 December 2011, officers and protestors clashed when a number of residents, citing environmental concerns, demonstrated against the Bima administration by blocking the road to Sape port and demanding the revocation of a mining permit issued to PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara.

Three people were killed during the clash, including one aged 17 years and one aged 18 years.

Source: Jakarta Post

Date: 3 January 2012