Khairul Saleh, Palembang – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has declared that rights violations occurred in a fatal clash between residents of Sodong village, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) regency and employees of plantation firm PT Sumber Wangi Alam on April 24.

"Human rights violations occurred in the fatal incident due to the loss of people's right to live," Komnas HAM vice head Nurkholis said on Sunday. "This is attributable to the sluggish response of OKI Regent Ishak Mekki in addressing the long-standing issue which led to the loss of lives."

The OKI regent, Nurkholis said, should be held responsible and immediately resolve the issue. He added that the police should do everything in their power to prevent the conflict from boiling over again. "They must be careful in taking measures and should not discriminate in upholding the law," he said.

He said Komnas HAM would start investigating the case on Tuesday by interviewing local residents and staff of the OKI regency administration. He said the commission would also request statements from the South Sumatra Police chief and his subordinates.

"We will seek as much information as possible in the field from various parties," Nurkholis said. He said Komnas HAM would likely issue recommendations based on its findings in the field to relevant agencies.

Andre Meilansyah, the head of the economics and socio-cultural division at the NGO Palembang LBH, said his team had visited the scene of the violent clash on Monday. He said his group had requested assistance from local residents in conducting its investigation.

"We will gather materials, such as land certificates for plasma farms that the company promised it would hand over to residents but failed to do so, and any evidence of the involvement of thugs hired by the company," Nurkholis said over the phone.

South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin said his administration would stand behind the OKI regency administration in resolving the issue, but added that it would not attempt to investigate the fatal clash now, because the situation in the area was still delicate.

He said that he had been informed that the clash had been sparked by a long-standing issue. "We, from the provincial administration, will continue to monitor [the situation]," he said.

He said the provincial administration had reviewed various land disputes between companies and local residents in order to settle them to avoid more unrest. "We don't want a similar incident to happen again. The most important thing is to prevent provocation," he said.

The South Sumatra provincial administration's data showed that there were 60 land disputes in nine regencies and mayoralties in the province last year. Of those, 24 had been resolved and 17 were being worked on by the end of last year.

On April 21, Sungai Sodong residents clashed with PT Sumber Wangi Alam employees, leaving seven people dead. Two Sodong villagers who died in the clash, Syafii, 18, and Macan, 22, were both found with stab wounds and bullet wounds in their necks.

Company employees Hambali, Haris Fadillah (both plantation assistants), Ardi and Akbar, along with another employee who had not been identified also died in incident.