Ruslan Sangadji, Palu, Central Sulawesi – Police shot two residents Tuesday evening while dispersing hundreds of people protesting a rock quarry in Damsol district, Donggala regency, Central Sulawesi.

Ramang Datu Adam, 39, and Safrudin, 28, residents of Sioyong village in the district, were shot in the right legs. They were taken to Undatu General Hospital in Palu, the province capital.

According to Ramang, the shooting occurred at about 6:40 p.m., when a number of Mobile Brigade officers showed up to guard several trucks carrying rocks from Parisan Agung village to the beach at Sabang village, also in the regency.

He said hundreds of people from Sioyong village and neighboring villages suddenly blocked the trucks when they were passing the village.

Residents then became embroiled in a shouting match with police officers. As the situation spiralled out of control, the officers ordered the protesters to leave the scene.

They also fired several warning shots into the air and shot tear gas canisters into the crowd. With the warning shots and tear gas not succeeding in dispersing the protesters, the officers then started shooting into the crowd.

"We didn't even fight them (the officers)," Ramang claimed. He said he would urge police chiefs in the area to investigate the shooting incident.

He also said the residents were against the quarrying operation managed by PT Asean Tunggal Mandiri Perkasa, fearing it could damage the environment.

"We're worried about the activity due to its negative impacts and because it could cause flooding in our area. And it's now the rainy season," he claimed, adding the local administration and the village head had not approved the operation.

Asean Tunggal Mandiri Perkasa president director Muhammad Reza Akbar denied his company had no operating permit to quarry rocks in Parisan Agung village.

He said his company had secured an eight-year quarrying contract and had just begun the operation three months earlier. However, he said would call a halt to the operation if the situation kept giving rise to hostilities.

"To avoid conflicts (with residents), we should stop the quarrying operation, although we have a permit for it," he said.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Irfaizal Nasution confirmed police had shot into the crowd of protesters. He added the action had to be taken because the protesters were getting out of hand. However, he said the police were probing the shooters and questioning several witnesses.

"The Central Sulawesi Police's internal affairs department is investigating the case," he said. "They are examining the bullets fired in the incident. We will complete the investigation."