Facts About Human Confinement In Langkat Regency: Violence, Slavery, And Death

Human Cage in Langkat Regent's House/Photo: VOI

JAKARTA - Investigations into the existence of a human cage in the yard of the Langkat Regent's house, the issuance of the Wind War Plan was carried out by a number of parties. As a result, there were findings in the form of acts of violence that resulted in more than one fatality in locations claimed to be rehabilitation centers for drug users.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) some time ago conveyed the provisional findings they got after conducting a direct investigation in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. One of them is the death toll of more than one person.

Initially, Komnas HAM conducted an investigation because they received a report from the Indonesian Association for Sovereign Migrant Workers, Migrant Care.

In addition, this institution confirmed that there was indeed violence against the occupants of the cage. This assurance was obtained after interviewing a number of witnesses.

"So a violent firm took place there, the victims were many, including violence that caused the loss of life and more than one of them lost their lives," Anam said in his video caption quoted on Monday, January 31.

In addition, Anam said that a pattern was found on how the abuse of residents who claimed to be drug addicts occurred. In fact, there are a number of codes that are spoken when the persecution event occurs.

"We also found patterns of how the violence took place. We also found out who the perpetrators were, how, using tools or not, we also found," he said.

"There sometimes use tools. This includes terms when violence takes place, for example, such as MOS, gas, or two and a half buttons. So there are terms like that which are used in the context of violence, the use of violence," Anam added.

In addition to Komnas HAM, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) announced their findings regarding the human cage in Terbit's house. The first finding was that not all of the occupants of the prison-like cage were drug users.

In fact, so far the cage is often referred to as a place of rehabilitation even though there is no permit. "First, not all prisoners are drug addicts," said LPSK Deputy Chair Edwin Partogi Pasaribu at the Jakarta LPSK Office, Monday, January 31.

The next finding was that not all the occupants of the cage came from Langkat. In addition, there were no rehabilitation activities and inadequate housing.

It doesn't stop there, the visits of the residents' families are also limited and are valid for three to six months from the time they enter.

Next, LPSK revealed that they were not allowed to bring communication tools. Then, it was found the treatment of people in cages as prisoners with the terms used as in detention houses or correctional institutions.

"They live in locked cages," said Edwin.

Then, from a review conducted by LPSK, it is known that the worship activities of the cage dwellers are also limited. They are not allowed to perform Friday services, Sunday services, and major religious holidays.

Detainees are employed without wages in palm oil companies, there are allegations of levies, there is a detention time limit of 1.5 years, detained up to four years.

Furthermore, Edwin said that it was suspected that there had been structured omission and that there was a statement that he would not sue if the occupant was sick or died from the victim's family.

"LPSK found information that the alleged death toll was unnatural and there was an allegation of cage III," he said.

As previously reported, the existence of a human cage suspected of being a form of slavery at the home of the inactive Langkat Regent Terbit Rencana Perangin 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 Terbit's land.

Subsequently, these findings were reported by Migrant Care to Komnas HAM. Armed with reports from the community, they said that the occupants of the human cages received cruel behavior, including not being paid for working in Terbit's palm oil plantation.

In addition, they get violent until they are not given food regularly. Not only that, but their access to communicate with outsiders is also limited.