The Regent Of Langkat Admits That A Human Cage Inhabitant Died, But Not Because Of Persecution

Prison at Langkat Regent's house Issues War-Wind Plan/IST

JAKARTA - The Regent of Langkat Publishes a Plan to Warn the Winds admits that a human in his house has died. But he denied that it was because there had been persecution.

The publication of the plan was examined by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) on Monday, February 7 yesterday. The examination was carried out to confirm the institution's findings after sending a team to Langkat, North Sumatra to investigate the human cage in Terbit's house.

After conducting the examination, Komnas HAM Commissioner Choirul Anam said Terbit admitted that there were occupants who died in the cage. However, the regent did not mention the amount.

"I'm not talking about the number of people, but that there are those who died, yes (admit)," Anam told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, South Jakarta, Monday, February 7.

Even so, Komnas HAM has recorded at least three people who died in the cage. While related to the cause, Anam did not want to go into further detail.

However, this institution found allegations, forms, and tools used to commit violence. "We've said it before, we found violence, forms of violence, patterns of violence, to tools of violence," said Anam.

Regent's Rebuttal Published

Terbit, who is now a prisoner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) due to his entanglement in a hand arrest operation (OTT), finally spoke out regarding the discovery of a human cage in his home. He claimed that the place was not a prison as reported by most, but a training ground.

"It's not a human cage, it's a place of development," said Terbit after being questioned.

This Golkar Party cadre called the iron bars a means of coaching drug addicts. This practice, continued Terbit, was known by law enforcement officials.

However, he thinks that the iron bars do not need a permit to carry out their activities. Moreover, the residents are not rehabilitated but fostered so that they are free from these illicit goods.

"It's not rehab. It's coaching. Initially it was coaching for the organization. (In, ed) my own organization as a figurehead of Pemuda Pancasila," he said.

"(Coaching, ed) in order to eliminate drug addicts," added Terbit.

Terbit said the public had never protested about the human cage. Moreover, the place was created solely to help the community.

On that occasion, Terbit also claimed that the victims who died in the cage were not caused by the training carried out. He admitted that he did not know more because he was not the one who directly managed it.

"We will see the report later or what because it is not our direct management," he said.

While related to allegations of exploitation of the residents, Terbit claims they are actually being taught new abilities. The goal, so that the residents can be useful when returning to society.

"Not being hired, just to give it as a skill. In order to become a skill, that person can use it outside," he said.

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.