APSN | 'Clash' between TNI and police leaves 4 soldiers injured in Batam

Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia

'Clash' between TNI and police leaves 4 soldiers injured in Batam

Jakarta Globe - September 22, 2014

Sutarman plays down TNI-Polri rift - Jakarta Post. November 21, 2013
Soldiers who attacked PDI-P office remain free - Jakarta Post. April 23, 2013
TNI back in the spotlight for PDI-P attack - Jakarta Post. April 22, 2013
PDI-P security guards injured during military raid - Jakarta Globe. April 21, 2013
Government, House told to finish reform in military and police - Jakarta Post. March 28, 2013

Yeremia Sukoyo & Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Four soldiers were rushed to hospital at the weekend after they were allegedly shot by police officers following a raid on a fuel storage facility in Riau Island province.

Both the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police are investigating the incident, however, details of the violent clash are still unclear.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya said on Monday that two soldiers were injured when police tried to forcefully detain them near the scene of the raid.

"The police were raiding a storage suspected to be hoarding fuel in Batu Aji, Batam, when two soldiers who had just finished the night duty stopped and watched the commotion, but they were caught, beaten and shot in the leg," he said. Two more soldiers were injured afterwards when they stormed into the nearby police office, Faud said.

The spokesman, however, denied it was a "clash" between soldiers and members of the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob). "It was not a clash, the information I received said the police forcefully detained the soldiers."

A source within Batam Police, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Jakarta Globe the soldiers were shot after a raid on an illegal storage facility holding diesel, which was located about 500 meters from the TNI headquarters.

Police found the facility and detained two people – who claimed to be passing by – during the raid, the source said.

"When the police were checking out the evidence and questioning the witnesses some men in crew-cut hair gathered in front of the storage." More men, who the source claimed were soldiers, arrived and allegedly shouted: "Let's go to war."

The police decided to wrap up the raid and leave the location, but the men allegedly tried to stop the police officers from leaving and assaulted one who was riding a motorcycle. The source told the Globe that following the incident soldiers turned up at the police office and started throwing insults.

Brimob members, who had just finished their night briefing, saw the incident and one officer fired two warning shots into the sky while others chased the soldiers to Barelang bridge, the source said.

More soldiers then showed up at the police station and started to burn a motorcycle and a canteen owned by a Brimob member, the source said.

"Then gunfire broke out, causing four TNI members to get shot, so it is not true that this shootings happened for no reason." Police deny the soldiers were shot intentionally.

Fuad said the TNI was still collecting evidence and information from victims and witnesses and the soldiers were recovering in hospital. National Police chief Gen. Sutarman said police would form a joint task force to investigate the incident.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/clash-tni-police-leaves-4-soldiers-injured-batam/.