Fidelis Satriastanti – The National Commission on Human Rights criticized on Monday the Riau Police for failing to properly investigate the deaths of three villagers who were found after a protest of a pulp and paper company in Rokan Hulu district on May 28.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia says on its Web site that the protest against PT Sumatera Sylva Lestari – a subisidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International – over land tenure was "brutally suppressed, resulting in the deaths of three villagers and many more injured," quoting members of the community.

"Witnesses spoke of company security and local police using sticks studded with nails against the protesters," Greenpeace alleged on its Web site.

Nur Cholis, a member of the human rights commission, also known as Komnas Ham, said he strongly believed that the police failed to investigate the violence in the villages of Bangun Purba, West Bangun Purba and Tangun thoroughly, including conducting complete examinations of the three deceased men.

He said two of the victims, Sobirin Nasution and Rusmanto, were found drowned in a reservoir about 150 meters from the company's site two days after the protest. The third victim, Mahyudin, was injured in the incident and died in a hospital the next day.

Nur said an initial investigation by the commission determined that the men were strong swimmers so they were unlikely to have drowned. "We also suspect that the victims may have suffered from some kind of physical torture," he said.

Hersadwi Rusdiyono, the head of the Rokan Hulu Police, denied suggestions the police were not treating the allegations seriously, saying that the investigation was continuing and officers were following proper procedures.

"We have questioned 29 people from the villages and also from the company. However, we still don't have any suspects," Hersadwi said, adding that there was no proof that any of the deceased had been tortured.

Despite stating that they were still investigating the clash, he said that the victims had drowned because they could not swim. "While trying to escape from the chaotic situation at that time, they jumped in the reservoir. However, they could not save themselves and apparently others were too busy to save them."

Al Azhar, a community representative on the fact-finding team investigating the incident, rejected the police claim, saying the two "drowned victims" were both fishermen and strong swimmers.

"Besides, one of them was found almost naked," he said. "His clothes were found only a few meters from his body, so how is it that he had the time to take off all of his clothes?"

He said the poor police investigation was a set-back for overall efforts to handle land conflicts in the province.