Police Propam Expected To Reveal The Shooting Of Protesters In Parigi Moutong

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the Indonesian Police Strategic Studies Institute (Lemkapi) Dr. Edi Hasibuan expects the National Police's Professional and Security Division (Divpropam) Team to immediately uncover the case of the shooting of anti-gold mining demonstrators in Equatorial Village, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi.

"We hope that the results of the investigation in the field will find out who the shooter that killed a demonstrator was," said Edi in a written statement quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 15.

Edi appreciated the quick steps taken by the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who had deployed the National Police Propam to investigate the shooting.

"It is not easy to determine who shot the victim. However, with the help of ballistic tests carried out by the police and examining a number of suspected weapons, God willing, it will be revealed," said the former member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas).

The lecturer in law at Bhayangkara University, Jakarta, emphasized that the National Police Chief's commitment so far has been very clear and firm that anyone who violates the procedure will be given strict action, especially if there are actions that kill people's lives.

Previously, the National Police sent a team from the Propam Division and the Public Relations Division to assist the Propam Division of the Central Sulawesi Police in uncovering the incident so that it could be completed more quickly.

"The police leadership's commitment is very clear, we will take strict action against any member found guilty in the incident that occurred in Parigi Moutong," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo.

Dedi said that in the evidence, the National Police will work transparently, according to facts, and convey the results of scientific evidence to the public.

In securing the demonstration, said Dedi, members of the National Police may not carry firearms with live ammunition.

The police dispersed the crowd on Saturday, February 12 at midnight because they had blocked the Trans Sulawesi road section in Katulistiwa Village, Tinombo Selatan District, Parigi Moutong Regency from noon.

The crowd demanded that the Central Sulawesi government close a gold mine owned by a private company that has concessions in Kasimbar, Toribulu, and South Tinombo sub-districts, Parigi Moutong district.

In an attempt to disperse the crowd, a resident was shot and killed. A total of 59 residents who had been arrested by the police have been repatriated.