"So far they have been discriminatory. In the case of Mesuji in Lampung they have given attention though not fully by coming to the scene. And so do they in the case of violence in Aceh," the MP from the ruling Democrat Party, Ruhut Sitompul, said to newsmen here on Wednesday.
But, in the case of violence in Bima, Lombok island, that involves PT SMN, no Commission III member has given any attention. "They even spoke no word about it much less visiting the scene while the victims there are also Indonesian citizens," he said.
He said the behavior had certainly hurt the people`s feelings especially the feelings of the victims in Bima. "Pity on them while they are in fact also Indonesian citizens. They (Commission members) must not be discriminatory. If they want to fight they must fight for all Indonesian people not only for certain purposes," he said.
Ruhut viewed the Commission III would not move with regard to the case in Bima because of the interest of one party there, which may be disrupted if they came there.
"We know PT SMN is connected with the district head of Bima, Fery Zulkarnain. Is it not true that PT SMN financed the district head during his electoral activities," he said.
Ruhut said there was also a "group" in the Commission consisting of members from various factions who had worked only for the interests of certain businessmen. They would move or not depending on the interest of the businessmen.
So, he said, people must not be deceived by their activities. "It will always be like now. I see there seems to be a group in Commission III that works for the interest of certain businessmen and its members are from various factions. They protect the businessmen," he said.
He said "what they are fighting for is y not justice for the people but for the businessmen behind them. Please stop the behavior. Remember you are the people`s representatives. It is the people who choose and pay you and not those businessmen."
A member of the opposition Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives, Budiman Sudjatmiko, earlier said the enemy he is facing to settle cases of land dispute between businesses and the people is not easy.
Businessmen and owners of mining, plantation and wood companies are usually also affiliated to certain political parties or political elites, he said. However he said he was ready to fight them.
Sudjatmiko said he would also seek to review all of the licenses relating to mining and plantations.
"I do not care whether I have to clash with general chairmen or whoever. I would always say the same thing because the bet is too big to be ignored if we let the mining authority and exploitation to be in the hands of political forces. This will also only produce legislation products which look legal but hurt the people," the former activist said.
Budiman said he also wished to set up a special committee on agraria to overcome the disputes. A lot of parties have expressed their support to it. The committee will later set up a special body to especially deal with agrarian reform, he said.
"We wish for transparency and public involvement. Everything must be returned to the people. Local administrations may have authority but people must also be able to enjoy it. Unlike now people only see their region being destroyed due to mining exploitation," he said.
The Commission III was scheduled to leave for Aceh on Wednesday to collect information following the escalation of tension in the region due to a spate of violent incidents recently.
Commission III deputy chairman Nasir Jamil said the team would consist of 10 people including elements from commission leadership namely Nasir and Aziz Syamsuddin.
"We wish to collect information regarding violent cases in the region so far. Even last night there was information that a shop house had been burned there. We do not know if the incidents happened suddenly or there were other factors behind them because they happened ahead of local elections." he said.(H-YH/HAJM)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
