IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – The Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute or LBH Yogyakarta said its Instagram account had been inaccessible since 11: 20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, after it posted videos showing the arrest of residents of Wadas, Bener District, Purworejo Regency by the police.
The Director of LBH Yogyakarta Yogi Zul Fadhli said that as of Wednesday morning, Feb. 9, the account has not been recovered yet. “It’s been inaccessible since last night,” he said via a text message to Tempo.
LBH Yogyakarta has been assisting Wadas villagers who are against the government’s plan to mine andesite in their village area for constructing the Bener Dam.
On Tuesday, the National Land Agency officials carried out the land measurement for the project assisted by hundreds of police personnel. The armed officers came in cars, motorbikes, and on foot.
The personnel arrested dozens of Wadas villagers. Videos showing the arrest were spread across social media platforms. “60 people have been arrested. It has been confirmed,” said Yogi.
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) reported that dozens of villagers were arrested in mosques and houses and were taken to Bener Sectoral Police Post.
Meanwhile, the Central Java Regional Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Iqbal Alqudusy said there was actually a clash between residents who opposed and supported the mining project plan near a mosque.
The officers thus arrested a number of Wadas villagers for carrying sharp weapons. “The authorities secured people who carry sharp weapons and machetes,” Iqbal claimed. “They were taken to the Bener Police Post.”
Read: Police Clash with Wadas Villagers Opposing Major Dam Construction
JAMAL A. NASHR
