Shooting Incident in Kebumen Must be Settled Based on Law

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) chief Admiral Agus Suhartono instructed his subordinates to settle the Kebumen shooting incident democratically based on the law in force.

His spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said here on Sunday that the TNI chief also expressed his deep regret over the outbreak of the clash between military personnel and local residents in Kebumen, Central Java last Saturday.

Regarding the incident in which 13 suffered serious injuries and four were shot, Agus Suhartono expressed hope that such an incident would not be repeated in the future.

"Therefore, dispute should be settled democratically and based on the law in force," he said.

The TNI headquarters said that the handling of the demonstrators had been carried out based on the standing procedures and were followed by persuasive steps. The clash should have not happened because planned military exercise and heavy equipment test in the location has been canceled and moved to Lumajang, East Java.

The land in Ambal village, Kebumen, Central Java had been under the management of the Army since the Dutch colonial era and it has been used as a shooting range since in 1949.

The Dipenegoro District Command Chief Maj. Gen. said meanwhile that his side has set up a team to settle the incident. It would also take firm actions against soldiers who are proven to have committed crime.