"The situation in Batang Kumuh village tonight (Thursday) is still tense. People are on edge because of the shootings by members of the police Mobile Brigade (Brimob)," Nasir Sitohang, a lawyer for residents involved in the land dispute, told an Antara reporter.
Many fully armed police officers were at 21,00 Western Indonesia time seen at the location of the clash which had erupted between local residents and guards of PT Mazuma Agro Indonesia (MAI).
According to Adjunct Commissioner Antoni Limban Gaol, head of the district police`s criminal investigation department, the confrontation seemed to have been a sequel of a dispute over a land border that dated back to 1998.
Lawyer Nasir said Batang Kumuh residents were still in panic and distraught while some of them tried to meet MAI officials to inquire about five fellow villagers had gone missing.
"But I and some local community figures have asked the villagers to remain calm because the land border dispute has already been referred to the Supreme Court," he said.
So far, local police officials have yet to make an official statement about the clash. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
