Police And Residents Clash In Wadas Village, Central Java, Commission III Of The House Of Representatives Asks To Stop Land Measurement

Police move to Wadas Village (Photo: Screenshot Amateur Video/Twitter)

JAKARTA - Commission III of the DPR RI highlighted incidents of clashes that occurred between joint officers and residents of Wadas, Purworejo, Central Java (Central Java). It is known, a number of joint forces consisting of the TNI and Polri were deployed to Wadas Village to oversee the measurement of land for the construction of the Bener Dam.

"How can there still be resistance from residents, resulting in clashes between police officers and residents of Wadas Village? This is clearly a bad fact that is a concern for all of us," Deputy Chair of Commission III, Prince Khairul Saleh, told reporters, Wednesday, February 9.

The PAN politician then questioned the role of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) regarding the construction process of the Bener Dam which was included as a national strategic project (PSN). Because he said, since four years ago the project was launched, there are still residents who until now refuse.

"If it is stated that this project was launched 4 years ago, the residents of Wadas Village in Purworejo Regency refuse to have their village become a quary andesite mining location for the benefit of the construction of the Bener Dam project, which is a national strategic project. So the question is, what is the role of Forkopimda in the district and in the region? province all this time?" said the Prince.

The South Kalimantan legislator admitted that he was concerned about the occurrence of violence against residents which should have been avoided. The prince hopes that the police will prioritize a dialogue approach with citizens, not in an arbitrary way.

"The escalation of violence between the police and the residents should be avoided together. My hope is that the Purworejo Police will continue to prioritize a dialogical approach with residents, not arrogantly or arbitrarily," Prince said.

Prince also encouraged policy makers related to the Bener Dam Project PSN in Wadas Village to stop measuring land first before reaching a mutual agreement.

"To avoid conflict and the tragic consequences it will cause, I think stakeholders should stop measuring land first before reaching a mutual agreement," he said. The prince also urged the police to release the citizens arrested in the incident.

"Police officers also released all arrested residents to maintain conduciveness for mutual good intentions to secure strategic development while securing the rights of residents and nature in it," said the Prince.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, appealed to the authorities to take persuasive and humane steps.

"Then we ask the government to hold a dialogue so that there is no conflict that will harm all parties," said Dasco at the DPR Building, Wednesday, February 9.

Regarding the news that several companies of officers had come to the location today, Dasco said he would check the information. Most importantly, he said, the police took a humanist approach with the residents. "That's why it's a persuasive step. We'll try to check it," he said.