The Governor Of Bali And The Military Commander Intervened, The Case Of Beating The Buleleng Dandim And Residents Ended Peacefully

The TNI and the residents of Sidetapa Buleleng Bali made peace. Mediation was carried out by the Governor of Bali and the Pangdam Udayana/IST

BULELENG - Bali Governor Wayan Koster together with Pangdam IX/Udayana, Major General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak led the mediation of violent incidents perpetrated by a number of TNI elements against residents in Sidetapa Village, Banjar District, Buleleng, Bali.

In the mediation, peace was agreed. The agreement was stated in the signing of the peace agreement in mediation at Makodim 1609/Buleleng and followed by a meeting at the Wantilan Pura Bale Agung, Sidetapa Village, Tuesday, September 7.

"I am with the Military Commander in order to peacefully resolve the Sidetapa issue, which peace efforts have already made and all agreed. Sign the peace agreement. Both parties agreed to end everything and make peace. There is no longer any legal process," said Koster.

During the mediation, a peace agreement was signed by Dandim 1609/Buleleng, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Windra Lisrianto, and Sidetapa residents who were victims of beatings by members of the TNI.

In addition, Koster also explained that Bali is currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Handling it requires joint hard work and synergy between various parties in dealing with the pandemic is needed.

"The COVID-19 pandemic requires joint hard work. It is necessary to involve various parties to overcome this. In Bali, in particular, all leaders are working hard to overcome this pandemic in order to recover quickly," he said.

"Incidentally, the Pangdam has a program, and later we will synergize for its realization. These programs can later be in direct contact with the urgent needs of the community," continued Koster.

Meanwhile, the Military Commander IX/Udayana, Maj. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, fully supports the peace efforts being carried out. According to him, the entire community together with the government and the TNI-Polri must work together to fight COVID-19.

"Essentially both sides also want peace. The community is not our opponent. Our opponent now is COVID-19," he said.

"There is no more legal process. Everything is finished. Hopefully this can be a better momentum to communicate with the public directly," he said.

Meanwhile, the legal counsel for Sidetapa residents, Kadek Cita Ardana Yudi, will withdraw the report against Dandim 1609/Buleleng Lieutenant Colonel Windra which was posted at Denpom IX/Udayana.

Then, for the report at the Buleleng Police, his party will still coordinate with investigators at the Buleleng Police, regarding the report previously submitted by Dandim Lt. Col. Windra.

"We hope that the Dandim will immediately withdraw his report at the Buleleng Police. And once that happens, we as the legal counsel for the residents of Sidetapa will also withdraw the report to Denpom IX/Udayana," said Ardana.

He also said the peace effort was the right step and stated that he would support the government's program in handling COVID-19.

"Essentially the request for peace is that we both forgive and we both withdraw the report. When mediation occurs like this, this process reaches here. We make peace," he said.