Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The security and defense commission at the House of Representatives warned Wednesday of a potential repetition of violent clashes as numerous cases of civilian-armed forces land disputes remain unsettled.
"The Pasuruan shooting will not be the last such incident... the commission has identified at least 280 land disputes between the military and citizens," legislator Effendy Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) said during a hearing with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshall Djoko Suyanto.
Effendy referred to the May 30 shooting by marines in Pasuruan, East Java, which left four villagers dead.
"I have a 1.5 meter high pile of documents on these cases in my office," legislator Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.
In the wake of the Pasuruan incident, the House commission set up a working committee to investigate the land dispute which triggered the violence. During Wednesday's hearing, the House recommended the TNI stop its business activities and ask the government to take over all military businesses.
Calling the shooting a human rights violation, the commission said the incident needed to be thoroughly investigated in order to avoid similar violence in the future.
"The incident is a violation of the law, for which the military institution must be held responsible. All marines involved in the shooting must be brought to justice," commission chairman Theo Sambuaga said at the meeting.
Also present at the hearing were Army chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, Air Force chief Marshall Herman Prayitno, Navy chief Adm. Slamet Soebijanto and Marine Corps Chief Maj. Gen. Nono Sampono.
PKB's Effendy Choirie, Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party, Yuddhy Chrisnandi of Golkar Party, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin of the Reform Star Party, Jeffrey Massei of the Prosperous Peace Party and Andreas Pareira of PDI-P, who spoke in succession during the hearing, accused the TNI of violating a 2004 law on the military – in which TNI troops are required to defend the country's territory from foreign enemies and terrorism, not attack its own citizens.
"We don't see any reasons for the marines to use their weapons against citizens. If a protest turns violent, it should be handled by the police," Effendy said. Legislators said the incident indicated that despite internal reform, the TNI has yet to change its mind-set and was conducting business as usual.
TNI chief Djoko Santoso said a military investigation into the incident was underway, with the inquiry team still collecting information from witnesses. "The military tribunal must ensure an objective trial of suspects in order to win the public's trust," he said.
Djoko said TNI Headquarters would be extra-cautious in handling other land disputes, to avoid similar incidents in the future. "The TNI is not able to settle the cases alone and will cooperate with the House commission, the National Land Agency and the citizens themselves."