M.

NURUL QOMAR/X-H/21
Villagers struggling to move on amid fears
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/12/21/villagers-struggling-move-amid-fears0.html

Hasyim Widhiarto, The Jakarta Post, Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra | Wed,
12/21/2011 7:56 AM
JP/Oyos Saroso: Living miserably: Dozens of Mesuji villagers in Lampung are
forced to live like refugees in makeshift tents, without access to electricity and drinking
water, near the Hutan Register 45 area. They fled their village in September after local
authorities and vigilantes destroyed their homes.Residents of Mesuji district, in Ogan
Komering Ilir, South Sumatra, have difficulty moving forward without recalling the brutal
killing of seven people, three of whom were beheaded, in April in a land dispute between
local people and a plantation company. The plantation camp of PT Sumber Wangi Alam
(SWA), where the crimes reportedly happened, was found to be deserted on Tuesday after
all of the companys workers had resigned for security reasons and severe psychological
trauma. Dozens of houses for the workers and their families were left in ruins as new
workers preferred to return to their homes in nearby villages located outside the plantation
due to security concerns.
They are all traumatized by the incidents, especially after witnessing the dead
bodies of their colleagues who were brutally killed by the locals, said SWA worker
Supriyono, who is in charge of operations at the company. He said after the closure in April,
the company finally reopened in October having managed to recruit new workers.
Run 24 hours-a-day by 25 workers in two working shifts, SWAs palm oil factory can
process up to 10 tons of oil palm fruit per hour. The plant is located only 100 meters from
the crime scene.
The SWA plantation is at the heart of alleged human rights violations reported by a
group of local residents supported by former army officer Maj. Gen. (ret.) Saurip Kadi, who
showed legislators alleged video footage of the beheadings last week. Apart from the SWA
incident, Saurip also reported two other incidents of land disputes that ended in brutal
killings in two areas in Mesuji regency in Lampung - located more than 80 kilometers south
of Ogan Komering Ilir.
In the SWA incident, Saurip claimed gross negligence by local law enforcers had led to a
failure to prevent the killings.The land dispute between SWA and local residents, which has
spanned more than a decade, came to a head in Aprils incident when a grandson of Sungai
Sodong village leader Syafei Hasan was allegedly beheaded by the companys security
personnel for allegedly trying to take over the companys harvest. Another resident was also
killed in the clash.

Sungai Sodong is the nearest village to the plantation. A couple of hours later,
around 200 villagers retaliated to the killing by storming the plantation and killing five
SWA workers. Trials of the suspects in the incidents are currently ongoing. Sungai Sodong
villagers have mostly refused to talk to outsiders about the trials or to discuss the incidents,
saying they had difficulties in moving forward as the situation remained tense.
The incidents took place months ago. Theres no need to talk about it since were trying to
live normally, said Bangsawan, 36, an indigenous resident and father of four. Located
some 40 kilometers from the provinces main road, Sungai Sodong is bordered by the SWA
plantation and the Mesuji River. To reach the area, visitors must drive along a rugged road
through the heart of the companys plantation. According to official data, the village is now
inhabited by 600 families, with 400 families of indigenous people and the remaining 200,

long-term migrants from Java

Newsworthy Event

Background Events

Sources

Dozens of Mesuji villagers in Lampung are forced to

live like refugees in makeshift tents, without access to
electricity and drinking water. They fled their village in
September after local authorities and vigilantes
destroyed their homes.
The SWA plantation is at the heart of alleged human
rights violations reported by a group of local residents
supported by former army officer Maj. Gen. (ret.)
Saurip Kadi, who showed legislators alleged video
footage of the beheadings last week.

Supriyono

A group of local residents.

Former army officer Maj. Gen. (ret.) Saurip Kadi.

Destroyed
Action Verbs
Process up
Beheaded
Killing
Storming

They are all traumatized by the incidents,

especially after witnessing the dead bodies of their
colleagues who were brutally killed by the locals,
said SWA worker Supriyono, who is in charge of
operations at the company.

He said after the closure in April, the company

finally reopened in October having managed to
recruit new workers.

Sungai Sodong villagers have mostly refused to talk

to outsiders about the trials or to discuss the
incidents, saying they had difficulties in moving

Saying Verbs

forward as the situation remained tense.

Using Adverbs

The incidents took place months ago. Theres no

need to talk about it since were trying to live
normally, said Bangsawan

Time

: On Wednesday, 12/21/2011 7:56 AM

Place

: Mesuji villagers in Lampung

Manner : reportedly, brutally, especially,

allegedly, mostly, currently, normally

5W+1H
What

The brutally killed.

Where

Misuji village in Lampung.

When

In September after local authorities and vigilantes destroyed their homes.

Why

Because local authorities and vigilantes destroyed their homes.

Whom

Mesuji villagers.

How

Dozens of Mesuji villagers in Lampung are forced to live like refugees in make shift
tents.