- ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma
VIVAnews – Deputy Head of Human Rights National Commission, Ridha Saleh stated that crimes against humanity and Human Rights violations in Mesuji must be differed as there were two cases in Mesuji area. The crimes took place in Mesuji of Lampung and Mesuji of Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatera.
“In Mesuji, South Sumatra, the victims were 2 villagers and 5 employees of PT Sumber Wangi Alam. This is according to the facts,” Ridha told VIVAnews today, Dec 16.
The incident in Mesuji, South Sumatra was caused by a conflict between the villagers and PT SWA because of land disputes.
According to Ridha, the incident broke in April 2011. Later in May, the Human Rights National Commission conducted investigation and found out that 2 villagers and 5 security personnel of PT SWA were dead.
Meanwhile, the incident that happened in Mesuji, Lampung, has killed one villager. The Human Rights National Commission concluded that the victim was killed by a gunshot from the police.
The incident came about on the land owned by PT Silva Inhutani land in Pelita Jaya village and Pekat Raya area, East Mesuji Subdistrict, Mesuji Regency, Lampung, in November 2011.
“The incident that occurred on November 10 injured several people. In addition, one man was shot. The event was triggered by land disputes,” Ridha said.
Ridha said that as regards the conflict in Mesuji, Lampung, the Human Rights National Commission has set up an investigation team.
“The homes of tens of thousands of villagers were demolished. Many children are not able to attend school because their houses were torn down,” she said.
Was the brutal murder in Mesuji, South Sumatra was set out by the police?
“That is what we are going to investigate. But so far, we know that the conflict was between the company and local villagers,” Ridha said.
Meanwhile, according to the information gathered by VIVAnews, the brutal murder in Mesuji, South Sumatra, was a result of the attack toward PT SWA’s company assets by the villagers.
The company’s security guards responded to the attack, causing the death of two villagers. Then, villagers fought back and managed to kill 5 security guards. There was one security guard that was beheaded by the villagers.
“What happened is that the villagers started the attack first and tried to set PT SWA on fire. Please be careful, the incident has been politicized. The videos are misleading,” said a VIVAnews' source.
Police Human Relations Chief, Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said that the brutal murder in Mesuji, South Sumatra was done by villagers in conflict, not by the police, as claimed.
“The incident is quite brutal. There was one person killed and beheaded, an employee of PT (Sumber Wangi Alam) SWA. When the villagers came, they were not able to handle the situation anymore,” said Boy Rafli Amar on Thursday, Dec 15.
The land dispute has happened for a long time and the local government has tried to come up with solutions. However, physical conflict between the villagers and the company was unavoidable. The villagers prohibited the company to harvest in their land,” he said.
