Komnas HAM Granted Access to Investigate Wadas Project: Govt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government on Friday has granted access to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to freely probe any signs of human rights violations in the construction of the major dam project located in Wadas village, Central Java. 

This was confirmed by the Deputy V to Presidential Staff Head, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, following a meeting with Coordinating Security Minister Mahfud MD. 

“The government widely opens the access for Komnas HAM. An assertive law enforcement will be implemented if violations are discovered,” she said on Friday, February 11. 

This comes after Komnas HAM publicly condemned the violence from law enforcers in Wadas village against local residents and their legal attorneys who opposed the construction of a quarry mine in Wadas, which is in the dam construction project plan.

The human rights group argued that the government’s attempt to survey the area on February 8 was marred by acts of violence. They also regretted the number of arrests made against a number of Wadas villagers.

AS of today, Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi said he will withdraw police personnel from Wadas, adding that the land measurement process from a government body had been completed. He said the police will put forth persuasive approaches to handle similar situations in the future. 

Read: Amnesty Says Jokowi, Ganjar Must Take Responsibility for Wadas Incident

FAJAR PEBRIANTO