11 wounded after police open fire

Khairul Saleh, The Jakarta Post, Palembang, South Sumatra | Fri, 12/04/2009 10:23 PM

Tension is mounting in Rengas village in the South Sumatra regency of Ogan Ilir following a clash over disputed land between local residents and security guards at a state-owned plantation who were reinforced by Mobile Brigade police personnel.

At least 11 people suffered gunshot wounds when the police opened fire allegedly to disperse angry residents Friday.

Regional legislative councilor Sonedi Ariansyah said local residents stabbed three PTPN VII employees for pulling down border markers and demolishing huts belonging to the villagers.

“Dozens of people argued with the security guards and the police troops before the shooting took place. I don’t know if rubber or live ammunition was used,” Sonedi said.

The wounded were admitted to a hospital in the provincial capital of Palembang.

One of the injured residents, Wawan, said the violence erupted after security guards detained a villager who was attempting to stop the demolition of the border markers. “We were just defending our property,” he said.

Plantation spokesman Sony Purwanto refused to comment on the clash, saying he was still studying the case.

Last month about 1,500 villagers demolished a sugar cane plantation belonging to the company, claiming the plantation stood on their land.