Mahfud MD Says Police Presence In Candidates For Bener Reservoir Wadas Village To Prevent Conflict Between Residents

The location for the construction of the Bener Reservoir is in Purworejo Regency. BETWEEN/HO-

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said that the presence of the authorities at the location of the Bener Reservoir candidate in Wadas Village, Bener District, Purworejo, Central Java was solely to prevent conflicts between residents.

"The police have acted on requests to escort and keep the community from being trapped in horizontal conflicts and being provoked by fellow communities," Mahfud told reporters, Wednesday, February 9.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) also denied any violent actions by the police during the land surveying process. On the other hand, the police have acted in accordance with applicable procedures.

"The police have acted according to procedures to ensure public safety. There was no violence from the apparatus, no shootings," said Mahfud.

Mahfud ensured that his party would hold a coordination meeting regarding this issue in Wadas Village with a number of parties. "Until now, we are in the process of cooling down first," he said.

Previously reported, hundreds of joint officers from the TNI, Polri, and Satpol PP of Purworejo Regency accompanied the local BPN team to carry out land measurements at the location of the Bener Reservoir candidate in Wadas Village, Bener. This was held on Tuesday, February 8th.

"A total of 250 joint officers accompany around 70 BPN officers and the agriculture office who carry out measurements and counting of growing plants," said Head of Public Relations of the Central Java Police, Kombes M. Iqbal Alqudusy in his statement in Purworejo, Central Java, quoted from Antara.

He explained that the officers assisted the National Land Agency (BPN) team after the Head of the Central Java BPN Regional Office had an audience with the Central Java Police Chief on Monday.

The basis for the letter of personnel assistance, he said, was contained in the Letter of the Ministry of PUPR Number UM 0401.AG.3.4./45 dated February 3, 2022 regarding the Application for Safeguarding the Implementation of Measurements in Wadas Village, Purworejo Regency, Central Java.

In addition, there is also a letter from the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Purworejo Regency, Central Java Province Number AT.02.02/344-33.06/II/2022 dated February 4, 2022 regarding the Application for Security Personnel for the Implementation of Inventory and Identification in Wadas Village, Purworejo Regency.