The police have acted according to the procedures to ensure public safety
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD affirmed that the police had complied with the procedures in handling the incident in Wadas Village, Central Java, that led to 64 people being arrested.

"The police acted in accordance with the procedures to ensure public safety. There was no violence from the apparatus and no shootings," Mahfud noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

The police detained 64 people on Tuesday (Feb 8) during a land survey by the National Land Agency (BPN) officials in Wadas Village as the potential location for the Bener Dam project in Purworejo District, Central Java.

According to reports, police officers had adopted repressive measures and arrested 60 residents, some of whom were reported to have been subject to acts of violence.

"The police acted on requests to escort (BPN officers) and to avoid conflicts among the people as well as to prevent them from being provoked by others," Mahfud emphasized.


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Mahfud did not furnish further details whilst saying that the authority is currently working towards normalizing the situation in the village.

The minister said he will hold a coordination meeting at 3 p.m. local time to discuss the Wadas incident.

"Then I will give a statement" Mahfud noted.

Bener Dam is one of the government's strategic projects planned to be constructed in 2018 and scheduled to be completed in 2023.

However, some residents opposed the dam construction project.

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On a separate occasion, Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Achmad Luthfi promised to release the detained residents today.

"We are 'securing' them for 24 hours to guarantee security for these people, who refuse (the dam project), in order to avoid clashes with people, who approve the project," he stated.

Luthfi made the statement at a press conference in Purworejo District, with attendees also comprising Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Head of the Central Java Office of BPN Dwi Purnama, and Purworejo District Head Agus Bastian.

He spoke of the police having secured the land survey activity, and there was no violence against residents in the village.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo extended apologies to the people of Purworejo, especially those of Wadas Village, for the incident that might have caused inconvenience.


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Translator: Syaiful Hakim, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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