Angry people attack police and Medco?s security team

A group of angry people rioted, attacking the police and the security team of PT Medco Energi Internasional on Wednesday, leaving one police officer wounded in the stomach, at the time the security team and the police was taking actions against thieves at South Sumatra Extension (SSE) block in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra, according to upstream authority SKK Migas.

?We are deeply concerned over the incident. They police and Medo?s security team were assaulted by the mass at the time they were doing their job to protect the state asset,? SKK Migas?s spokesman Zudaldi Rafdi said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Zudaldi, the incident was triggered by a gang of thieves who tried to steal iron tubes from the bridge that Medco has been using to support its operation. Police officers along with the Medco security team arrived at the location at the time the thieves were loading the stolen tubes onto their truck. The thieves then fled the scene. The police and the security team drove the truck the nearby police station but they were stopped by a large number of people on the way to the police station.

The mob then attacked the police officers and the Medco security team. All members of Medco security team managed to escape, leaving three police officers behind. Two officers later managed to escape but the third officer was wounded with a gunshot in the stomach.

?The police was seriously wounded and is now undergoing a surgery on Thursday,? Zudaldi said.

On Thursday morning, the Musi Rawas police mobilized a large number of officers to search for one police officer, that is still missing, as well as the criminals.

?We thoroughly support the police?s efforts to handle this matter, since this kind of anarchic action has posed danger to law enforcers and oil and gas workers. If they remain unpunished, the national oil and gas production will be put at stake,? Zudaldi said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon