Anticipating Threats, National Police Chief Sigit Sends 4 SSK Personnel To Rempang Island

The police arrested several perpetrators of the riot during a demonstration in front of the BP Batam office, Monday (11/9). (ANTARA/Yude)

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo sent additional security personnel after the chaos related to the land acquisition of Rempang Eco-City in front of the Batam Concession Agency (BP) office. The number reached 4 Company Level Units (SSK) 400 personnel. "Of course, we continue to increase the strength of the personnel to date, there are approximately 4 SSKs that we have added and we will continue to improve this according to the escalation of the threat that occurred," Sigit told reporters, Thursday, September 14. However, solving the problem will prioritize a pesuasif approach by socializing. This is because the cause of the conflict is due to lack of information and understanding about land ownership and relocation. "Because there is a miscommunication of issues in the field has not been completed so that our task is to quickly resolve them with efforts to approach the pesuasif yqmg as socialization, education, and deliberation in solving the problem," he said. Returning to the security issue, Sigit said that he would still take legal steps if there were parties who violated the law. Especially, provoking or spreading false issues or news. "On the other hand, we remain vigilant, we prepare personnel if there is a provocation, there are legal violation processes that occur, we will also take steps in the field," said Sigit. As a reminder, the plan to relocate 16 Old Village locations on Pulau Rempang, Batam City is still receiving rejection from the local community. The rejection was shown by the demonstration which was attended by thousands of people on Monday, September 11. The demonstration, which was initially peaceful, suddenly rioted with a mob destroying the fence and throwing stones at the Batam BP Office. As a result, the fence and glass in the office were destroyed by the emotional tantrums of the masses Around 22 joint personnel were injured, with details of 17 members of the National Police, three Satpol PP personnel, and two personnel from the Batam BP Ditpam.

In addition, in the aftermath of the riots, the Riau Islands Police (Kepri) and the Barelang Police (Batam, Rempang, Galang) arrested 43 people. They are suspected of being perpetrators of violence against officers, as well as destruction during a demonstration in front of the Batam BP Office.