Questioning Police Deployment In Wadas, PPP: Are Terrorists Really There? Like The New Order Era

Member of Commission III Arsul Sani (Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The United Development Party (PPP) questioned the deployment of hundreds of members of the Central Java Regional Police and the TNI in Wadas Village, Purworejo, Tuesday, February 8. As well as the arrest of a number of residents after the clashes. "Is there really a threat of terrorism or social unrest in Wadas Village, so that hundreds of officers need to be deployed?" said PPP Deputy General Chair Arsul Sani, Wednesday, February 9.

According to the member of Commission III of the DPR, the deployment of large numbers of apparatus without the threat of riots or social conflict suggests that the paradigm of thinking of the security apparatus and government regarding development is still the same as during the New Order era. "This is like repeating the ways the security apparatus handled the construction of the Kedungombo Reservoir during the New Order era," said Arsul. The Deputy Chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) considered that the apparatus should oversee the development carried out by the apparatus, not by deploying the security apparatus. However, it prioritizes informal approaches with the community. Moreover, said Arsul, with the spirit of prioritizing a restorative justice approach, enforcement of the apparatus and forced efforts should be avoided.

"Furthermore, the apparatus initiated meetings with residents but still paid attention to the progress. Residents were invited to have a heart-to-heart dialogue, after they were able to accept the measurements were carried out without the need for deployment," said Arsul.