INDONESIA: Police Officers shot live bullets to the protesters in Bojong Village, Kelapanunggal District

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that six persons have been seriously injured with a number of women and children receiving minor injuries in Bojong Village in Kelapanunggal District in indonesia on 22 November 2004 when the police officers called BRIMOB [Mobile Brigade; Indonesia’s paramilitary police] from Resimen I Kedunghalang Bogor opened fire on villagers who protested against the dumping of Jakarta city’s garbage in their village. Moreover, following the shooting, the police from Bogor sector office have searched the houses and arrested 34 persons. 16 persons among them were released the next day, but the rest of the people have been charged of attack of the garbage treatment plant and the police. 

After the incident, a police disciplinary committee, which was formed due to the pressure from the civil society organizations, has found that fourteen police officers were responsible for using unnecessary disciplinary methods to restore order during the protest. Especially, two police officers found to have violated the Criminal Code on two accounts – “causing serious injuries to others and unpleasant conduct”. However, no criminal action has been followed against those officers. Further no compensation have been paid to the victims.  

The AHRC calls for your immediate intervention into this matter. Please send a letter to the Government of Indonesia urging them to conduct a proper and impartial investigation into the shooting incident, release all detainees, duly punish the police officers who have been found responsible for criminal offences, and conduct a thorough investigation into the claims by the residents before getting the garbage treatment plant operational. 

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Jakarta City Administration was pushing on with its plan to operate the waste treatment facility in Bojong Village, Kelapanunggal District which comes under the Bogor Legislative Council. It was expected that the plant would be able to take 2,000 of the 6,000 tons of garbage produced by Jakarta’s daily waste, as well as 400 tons of garbage from Bogor regency. After learning of this plan, Bojong villagers have strongly opposed for a long time against the presence of the waste treatment plant, for fear that it would damage their environment and endanger their health. However, the Jakarta City Administration has ignored the complaints of the residents.     

On 21 November 2004, police officers arrived at the Bojong Village and messed up the house of one of the villagers named Madna.  At around 7:00am on the next day (November 22), the villagers, who were upset due to the previous day’s incident, blocked the streets which are linked to the disposal land. At 11:45am, when the villagers heard the arrival of the trucks with the waste, they rushed to the plant and attempted to burn it. Reports indicate that the protest became violent with the arrival of the police who started using unnecessary force. 

BRIMOB [Mobile Brigade; Indonesia’s paramilitary police] from Resimen I Kedunghalang Bogor then opened fired with live bullets on the protesters resulting in several men, women and children being injured and six of them seriously. Many villagers later fled their homes fearing police attack. Among the six persons severely injured, the five have been identified as Mr. Dede (28), Mr. Hendi (30), Mr. Oman (28), Mr. Sanin (28) and Mr. Dan Minun (28). In addition, the police officers from the Bogor sector office searched the village houses and arrested 34 persons. 16 persons were released on the next day but 18 people have been charged of involvement in the protest and their case files have been submitted to the Cibinong Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, a police disciplinary committee was formed due to the pressure from the civil society. After the inquiry, the Committee has found that “six Borgor Police officers were responsible for disciplinary violations and two officers have violated the Criminal Code on two accounts – causing serious injuries to others and unpleasant conduct”. Besides, eight members of the police’s Mobile Brigade found guilty of using excessive methods to restore order. 

The National Police’s internal affairs division has also questioned several low and middle ranking officers. According to their investigation, three middle ranking Mobile Brigade officers have been found responsible for abusing their power so the police authorities have issued warning letters to them. Besides, five low ranking officers have also been responsible for power abuse while on duty and the police authorities have announced that they would delay these officers’ planned promotions. However, except this very light reprimand, no serious disciplinary action has been taken so far against the responsible officers. In particular, two officers concerned have not been prosecuted although they were found in violation of the Criminal Code. No compensation has been paid to the victims, either.  

After this bloody incident, the Bogor Legislative Council, considering the residents’ complaints and the public opinion, has recommended the Jakarta City Administration on November 24 to halt the operations of the waste treatment temporarily till a proper study is made of the risks to the health of the residents and to the environment. However, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has claimed on the next day (November 25) that his administration would continue with its plan to operate an integrated waste treatment plant at Bojong Village despite the Bogor Legislative Council’s recommendation. Separately, the House of Representatives’ Commission III for law and legislation has been urged by a group of 19 local NGOs to form an independent team to look into the November 22’s incident and the grievances of the villagers. 

SUGGESTED ACTION:   

Please write to the Government of Indonesia to release 18 arrested persons who are in detention, appoint an independent investigation team to conduct a proper, impatial and urgent investigation into the Bojong conflict and take appropriate action to compensate the victims. Especially, please urge the National Police and Attorney General to take criminal action against the police officers who have violated the Criminal Code. Finally, please urge the Government of Indonesia to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to implement the Convention against Torture (CAT), to which Indonesia is a state party, domestically in order to prevent such abuses committed by the law enforcement officers in the future. 

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