After Being Investigated By Komnas HAM, Langkat Regent Denies Allegations Of Human Cages

Langkat Regent Inactive Publishes Wind War Plan/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Regent of Langkat is inactive Publishing a Wind War Plan mentions that the iron bars in his house are not human cages as is widely reported today. He said the place was a training location for the surrounding community.

This was conveyed by him after undergoing an examination conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, February 7.

"It's not a human cage. It's a training place," Terbit Angin Angin told reporters.

He agreed that there were occupants of the human cage in his house who died. However, Terbit denied that this was due to the alleged torture.

"We will see the report later or what because it is not our direct management. No, not (died due to torture, ed)," he said.

A rebuttal was also submitted regarding the suspicion that the occupants of the cage were exploited by being employed without salary at his palm oil management company. According to the Published Wind War Plan, those who inhabit the place are hired to acquire abilities.

From this ability, he continued, it is hoped that the people who are fostered will gain work experience that can be used when they return to the community.

"Not being hired, just to give it as a skill. So that it becomes a skill from there that person can use it outside," he explained.

The publication of the Wind War Plan also confirms that the place was accidentally closed and its operations are widely known by the local community. In fact, law enforcement officials are said to know about the iron bars.

He also agreed that the coaching activity did not have a permit. "If it's a permit, it's not rehabilitation, it's coaching. At first it was coaching for the organization," said Terbit.

"My own organization, I am a figurehead of Pemuda Pancasila. In order to eliminate drug addicts," he added.

Before closing his statement, Terbit Plan Warin Angin said that the iron bars in his house were claimed to have helped the community. Apart from that, no protests were raised regarding the existence of the cages because everything was based on the wishes of the residents.

"Its nature helps the residents there. No (no one protested, ed). This is a request from the community," he said.

As previously reported, Komnas HAM has examined the Regent of Langkat, who has not published the Wind War Plan. This inspection was carried out after this institution received a report and carried out direct investigations in Langkat, North Sumatra.

For information, the existence of a human cage suspected of being a form of slavery at the house of the inactive Langkat Regent Terbit Angin Angin was revealed after the KPK came there to carry out a hand arrest operation (OTT).

Instead of finding Terbit, the KPK team found a number of people confined in an iron cage. At that time they claimed to be oil palm workers on the land belonging to Terbit Plan Warin Angin.

Subsequently, these findings were reported by Migrant Care to Komnas HAM. In their report, they stated that the occupants of the human cage received cruel behavior such as violence, irregular eating, unpaid work while working in the palm oil plantation owned by Terbit Plan Warin Angin and limited access to communication with outsiders.