The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Fri, May 10 2013,
The police say that 21 officers will face charges following the clash last week between officers and local residents, which led to the deaths of four civilians, in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra.
"We have questioned 72 police officers, 21 of whom have been named suspects. They comprise four officers and 17 non-commissioned officers," National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said on Wednesday in South Jakarta.
Four people died on April 29 when police officers fired live rounds into a crowd of 500 protesters who backed the creation of North Musi Rawas regency.
The demonstrators blocked the Trans-Sumatra highway and vandalized two police stations and 10 vehicles. Dozens of protesters and five police officers were also injured in the clash.
Agus said the police personnel who had been named suspects had violated a police regulation on crowd control, which barred the use of deadly force to stop demonstrations that threatened public order.
The police had taken statements from six local residents and were currently conducting ballistics tests on bullets found at the scene, Agus said.
vr 10 mei 2013 - 23:51