Jakarta/Bogor – The National Police will summon Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito for questioning, following the bloody incident at Jakarta's waste treatment plant in Bojong village, Bogor regency, on Monday.

The statement was issued by National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar on the sidelines of Thursday's hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing security affairs.

Da'i admitted police efforts to stop the violent protest had gone awry, with six protesters wounded after officers fired live ammunition into the crowd. "That is why we will make a thorough investigation of the incident," Da'i said.

Television news footage clearly showed police, who were guarding the plant during the incident, opening fire to disperse the crowd after some of them tried to set the buildings on fire.

Villagers had repeatedly protested the presence of the waste treatment facility operated by PT Wira Guna Sejahtera, saying the plant would damage the environment and cause health problems.

Legislator Trimedya Panjaitan said Bambang and Bojong Police subprecinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Taufik should be held responsible for the incident.

He quoted residents who said that two weeks prior to the clash, two trucks packed with officers from the police elite Mobile Brigade unit were seen patrolling the plant.

"Why did the police deploy the Mobile Brigade there? Has the company specifically asked for security help from the unit?" he said.

Police have arrested 37 villagers but already released 18 of them. Five others are still unaccounted for after they were taken away by officers.

A crowd of mostly women from Bojong village visited Bojong Police station on Thursday to meet family members being detained there.

"I had thought my husband had gone missing. I've just found out from an NGO (non-governmental organization) that he has been detained here. I'm afraid he will be beaten up by the officers," said Sulastri, the wife of Gunawan, who is in police custody. During the visit, the women called for police to release the villagers.

While the residents strongly oppose the dump, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has said support for the project went as high as Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who wanted the facility to begin operations as soon as possible.

"The Vice President has instructed us to go ahead with the plant," he said, without explaining Kalla's reasons for his support. His statement, however, was at odds with the view of State Minister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, who told the House's Commission VII overseeing energy, mineral resources and the environment that the plant violated Bogor city's planning laws.

"[Bogor] Bylaw No. 27/1998 stipulates the waste processing plant should be located in Nambo village. Why did the local administration issue the permit to construct the facility in Bojong village instead?" he said. The bylaw also states Bojong is designated a residential area.

During the hearing, the commission urged the minister's office to intervene the case. "Since there is a violation in the construction of the plant, the minister's office must get involved," chairman Agusman Effendy said. He also urged the Bogor administration to temporarily close the plant until the dispute was solved.