Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Following the recent release of 13 Navy officials involved in the May shooting spree of villagers in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia's main NGO human rights group Imparsial has demanded the case be re-opened.
The 13 Navy officials held as suspects were freed on September 17 by the Navy Military Police due to an expired detention period.
The May 30 shooting spree in Alas Tlogo village, Pasuruan, left four people dead and eight wounded. The clash occurred after a dispute between villagers and Navy officials over a plot of land.
The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor group (Imparsial) told the National Commission on Human Rights Commission the shooting was a gross violation of human rights.
"The commission should take strict measures against the 13 navy officials by conducting a thorough investigation and bringing the case to the ad hoc rights court," Imparsial's human rights research coordinator Bhatara Ibnu Reza said Friday.
"We should not let the case go to the Military Court because it will lead to impunity. The suspects might be backed by high-ranking officials."
Bhatara alleged the Navy men were released because military investigators did not extend their detention period and then decided to end investigations.
The Alas Tlogo villagers were angry because an agriculture company, backed by the Navy officers, had crossed into their land borders. The Navy officials clashed with the protesting villagers and in the process, fires were shot.
The Navy justified their actions, saying it was absolutely correct to open fire on the residents and the Navy officials had performed their duties professionally.
They denied allegations the incident was a gross human rights violation. "The military has shown no guilt," Bhatara said. "They see the incident as an ordinary case. That has been proven by the release of the Navy suspects before they were brought to trial."
Given the high number of land disputes in Indonesia, Imparsial said the government should establish a joint investigation body comprising the Defense Ministry, National Land Agency, Human Rights Commission, agrarian law experts, farmers associations and NGOs.
Imparsial's researcher Cahyadi Satria said the investigation body should be mandated to settle land dispute cases nationwide.
Cahyadi said cases involving civilians and the military must be solved using an analysis of environmental and human rights impacts.
"The military should not also be allowed to determine their territories by themselves without approval from the Defense Ministry," Cahyadi said. "Otherwise more disputes will occur."
He also said the military should comply with the International Humanitarian Law that ensures a buffer zone between military territories and residential areas.