Komnas HAM Condemns Police Violence Against Wadas Villagers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Human Rights or Komnas HAM strongly condemned acts of violence committed by police against residents and legal assistants for residents of Wadas Village, Purworejo, Central Java, who opposed the mining plan in their village. The violence occurred during the land measurement process for the andesite mining project on Tuesday, Feb. 8.

“National Commission on Human Rights also laments the arrests of a number of residents who are still being detained at the Purworejo Police as of the issuance of this release,” said Komnas HAM Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara in a written statement, Wednesday, Feb. 9.

On that basis, Beka said Komnas HAM asked the Serayu-Opak river basin management organization (BBWS-SO) and the National Land Agency (BPN) to postpone the measurement of land belonging to the villagers who had agreed on the plan.

He also asked the Central Java Regional Police to withdraw officers assigned to the village and totally evaluate the approaches taken. The Regional Police, he argued, must impose sanctions on officers who are proven to have committed violence against residents.

“The Purworejo Police must immediately release the residents detained at the Purworejo Police Post,” Beka underlined.

Additionally, Beka urged Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, BBWS Serayu Opak, and related parties to design alternative solutions related to problems of the andesite mining in Wadas Village. This alternative could be then presented in a dialogue which will be facilitated by Komnas HAM.

“Komnas HAM asks all parties to stay still, respect the rights of others, and create a safe situation for the establishment of dialogue based on human rights principles,” Beka concluded.

Read: Police Arrest 64 Wadas Villagers, 10 of Them Are Minors

EGI ADYATAMA