Seventeen days after starting a peaceful protest, road blocking protest by residents of Pematang Bedaro Hamlet, Teluk Rasa Village, Kumpeh Mulu, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, was forcefully dispersed by hundreds of police on Thursday, 20 July 2023. A total of 29 residents, including two six-year-old children, were arrested and taken to Jambi Police.

The protest began when five residents of Pematang Bedaro Hamlet were arrested in early July. They were accused of stealing palm fruit from land disputed between the community and PT FPIL. Residents of Pematang Bedaro Hamlet demanded that the five be released, by blocking the company's main road. However, the residents experienced violence and intimidation.

"My hands were handcuffed with grip rope, and the police slammed me," said Nunung Sugianto, one of the victims who was rushed to hospital and treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Another victim named Angga, aged 18, suffered punches and kicks that injured his lip and lower face.

From the video and photo documentation obtained by Betahita, it appears that police officers pulled and dragged residents by force. A number of videos circulating on social media show the same thing. One video shows police tearing down a tent erected by residents to recite Surat Yasin in front of the company's main road.

The residents' last protest on Thursday, 20 July 2023, involved a joint prayer to commemorate the Islamic New Year. Because they were protesting, the prayer event was held on the PT FPIL road.

According to Edy Kurniawan Wahid, a researcher from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), violence and intimidation still occurred when residents were questioned at the police station, except for two children. One resident named Yusuf claimed to have been slapped and hit with a blunt object, sustaining injuries to his nose and a busted upper lip.

"On the morning of 21 July, 29 residents were released. But with the condition that they are obliged to report. The possibility of arrest remains if they do not report. In addition, eight mobile phone units belonging to residents were still confiscated by the police," Edy told Betahita, on Friday, 21 July 2023.

"The children who were arrested also suffered psychological trauma. They refused to go to school because they were still traumatised by the police arrest," Edy added.

Edy said that the residents were also not accompanied by legal counsel when examined, so they were not at liberty to provide information. Edy assessed that the mandatory reporting status did not make sense. Because legally, the mandatory report status only applies in investigations or when someone has been named a suspect, such as in city or house arrest.

"There is no mandatory reporting term if you are not a witness or suspect. Therefore, we consider this a form of further intimidation of the community. The impact is that people are discouraged from fighting for their rights," said Edy.

Edy said YLBHI also condemned the use of violence and criminalisation by the police in handling the agrarian conflict.

""The community did not commit a crime, nor did they destroy anything. They just sit and pray. Most of those who participated were women, who are vulnerable groups. So we regret and condemn this force dispersal," said Edy.

Frandody from the Jambi Regional Secretariat of the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) said that the conflict between the people of Pematang Bedaro Hamlet and PT FPIL has been going on for 25 years. According to him, the first conflict began when the company seized 400 hectares and 340 hectares of community land (Sumber Jaya Village).

"For 25 years, residents have never received compensation for the seized land. Instead, they faced injustice and intimidation," said Frandody.

According to Frandody, Komnas HAM had investigated the case and provided recommendations for compensation for the community's land. However, this was not done. A number of facilitated dialogues, including in the Jambi DPRD Special Committee, were also not attended by the company.

"This agrarian conflict was left prolonged. Meanwhile, the community has lost their livelihood. This is also what drives resistance from the community," said Frandody.

"We deeply regret the arbitrary actions of the police. They should have been guarding the protesters, not siding with the company," he concluded.