TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) clarified that several men carrying rifles around KM 50 of Cikampek toll road were police officers guarding the delivery route for the Covid-19 vaccine. The presence of these men was in the spotlight on the night of the fatal shooting of six FPI members.

“Based on the information we obtained, they were on duty related to vaccine security. The Sinovac vaccine was sent from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Bio Farma in Bandung,” said Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara on Monday, Dec. 28.

The Covid-19 vaccine made by Sinovac arrived from China on Sunday night, Dec. 6, at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang. The vaccine must be then taken directly to Bio Farma, which is located in Bandung, West Java by land transport. “That's the information we got from the police,” said Beka.

In the early hours of Dec. 7, the fatal clash between the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the police officers who were tailing them broke out around KM 50 of Cikampek toll road.

The police claimed armed officers were stationed in several rest areas, including the rest area near KM 50, to ensure the security of vehicles carrying the vaccine, Komnas HAM said.

As reported by Koran Tempo of the Dec. 18, 2020 edition, a number of witnesses claimed to have seen mysterious people carrying rifles in the rest area before the incident which killed six FPI members.

Also Read: Komnas HAM to Publish Investigation Result of the Shooting of 6 FPI Members

EGI ADYATAMA