Police Deploy 400 Personnel to Secure Mesuji

Bandarlampung (Antara Bali) - Some 400 police personnel were deployed to secure the Mesuji Police Office on Wednesday when a protest broke out as demonstrators demanded the release of the leader of forest encroachers.

"The protesters demanded the release of their leader Yadi, who stands accused of encroaching on forest land," stated Chief of Lampung Regional Police Brigadier General Heru Winarko here on Wednesday.

Police had arrested Yadi on Tuesday afternoon. Security forces assembled from E Lampung and Tulangbawang Resort Police personnel as well as Brigadier Mobile (Brimob) officers of the Lampung Regional Police were deployed to the scene for backup.

Winarko said police will prosecute the forest encroacher in accordance with the law. "We should continue the legal process for the encroacher because he violated the law. We cannot just release him," remarked Winarko.

Meanwhile, police have taken control of the traffic jam stretching tens of kilometers on the E Sumatera Highway caused by protesters blocking the road.

Traffic flow returned to normal on the E Sumatera Highway at 9 AM on Wednesday after the protesters, who refer to themselves as Register 45 Mesuji, blocked the road from Tuesday evening onward. (*/DWA)