Ismira Lutfia – Human rights activists have called for an independent investigation into the deaths of two men shot dead by police during an attack on oil field facilities in Tiaka Island, Central Sulawesi, last month.
Indria Fernida, deputy chairwoman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), said on Sunday that promises by the police to conduct an internal probe into the incident were insufficient, and that a thorough independent investigation was needed to ensure objectivity and accountability.
She said the accounts offered by police and protestors of the attack on the facility jointly operated by Pertamina and Medco E&P Tomori differed greatly.
"This calls for an independent investigation by a third party. The police should not stop at handing down internal sanctions to their officers. They should ensure that there is a fair and open prosecution of those charged with the crime of shooting and killing members of the public," she said.
Sinung Karto, a Kontras officer responsible for advocacy, law and human rights, agreed. "Each side has a very different account of what actually happened, but the police's own investigative team conducted its probe based only on the police's account, disregarding the villagers' version of events," he said.
Attacks on the Tiaka oil field facilities occurred over several days from Aug. 20. A group of about 30 protesters arrived armed with Molotov cocktails and machetes and demanded that the operators fulfil promises to improve the welfare of residents in Kolo Bawah village.
Police defended the joint venture's operations, shooting and killing two protesters, and inflicting gunshot wounds on six others. Twenty-three protestors were arrested and named suspects after the attack. Last week, police said they were investigating 19 officers over the fatal shooting.
Ifdhal Kasim, chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said that the organization's representatives in Palu, the Central Sulawesi capital, had conducted a separate probe into the incident and that Komnas HAM had submitted its preliminary report to the National Police in Jakarta.
"We've asked the police to take firm action against any officers found to have breached protocol, and we demand that their investigation not stop at the internal level," he said. "Their members should face a criminal court if they are found to have broken the law."