Human Rights Violation May Occur in Bima

Padangekspres.net--An incident that claimed the lives of at least two people took place as police were trying to disperse a throng of protesters in Sape Port, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

Once again, police are criticized for the event.

Makassar’s students in Bima solidarity act protested in front of three police stations on Monday, Dec 26. They threw rocks and beams at the stations’ windows. The crowd also destroyed traffic signs.

The Human Rights Commission emphasized violations against Human Rights in this case. However, the level of violations are yet to be determined.


Director of Human Rights Study Center of Universitas Islam Indonesia, Eko Riyadi, said that the police were suspected to have opened fire when handling the crowd. This is against Police Regulation No.1/2010, where it states that the usage of ammunition is prohibited when handling crowd in a protest.

“I strongly believed that a serious violation happens ,” said Eko Riyadi, in a discussion with VIVAnews, in Yogyakarta, Monday, Dec 26.

Moreover, Eko said that the process of breaking up the protesters in Sape Port was clearly organized systematically by the police. “The discharge and shooting occured early in the morning. This shows that the process is well-planned,” he said.

The Human Rights Commission was asked to investigate any form of human rights violation in the incident.

“We urge the Human Rights Commission to look into the violation to the fullest,” said Eko.

Chief of Police Public Relations Division, Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution, said that the allegation is not true.

“That was not true. We have regulations and procedures of conducting security measures. We have standard procedures,” he told VIVAnews, on Monday.

He said that the Criminal Investigation Department intensifies the probe.
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Coverage by: Erick Tanjung | Yogyakarta 
• VIVAnews