Authorities vow to secure vulnerable areas<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality will help intelligence officers
\nsecure Tanah Abang and other vulnerable Central Jakarta areas,
\nMayor Abdul Kahfi said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The municipality would cooperate with the Jakarta agency for
\nthe coordination of support for the development of national
\nstability at least until the general elections in May, Kahfi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He was talking about what was being done after gangs clashed
\nat the Tanah Abang market, Thursday.<\/p>\n
Kahfi did not elaborate on the cooperation but said the gang
\nmembers detained should be thoroughly investigated and brought to
\ncourt "because they are a menace to the public."<\/p>\n
Business was back to normal at the market yesterday as stores
\nand banks reopened and vendors filled the sidewalks.<\/p>\n
Security officers and gang members were still on guard in case
\nthere was more trouble.<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said "everything is under control"
\nand said he was grateful that "nobody was incited by rumors."<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim said 20
\npeople arrested in the clash were being held at the City Military
\nCommand.<\/p>\n
"The military command handled the case and will mediate to
\nmake peace between the two gangs," Ibrahim said.<\/p>\n
He said the military command was handling the case instead of
\npolice because there were too many parties involved like
\nhoodlums, traders, and others.<\/p>\n
"It is rather complicated," he said.<\/p>\n
However, he said police would increase surveillance of the
\ngangs' activities in Central Jakarta's markets and shopping
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
He said police confiscated at least 18 sharp weapons,
\nincluding several samurai swords during the riot.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, traders said they were relieved the clashes were
\nover but worried the violence could erupt again.<\/p>\n
Benny, a textile trader, said he immediately closed his shop
\nwhen people began scurrying into the store because they feared
\nthe clash would spark ethnic violence which would put many of the
\nChinese-Indonesian traders and their stores at risk.<\/p>\n
Benny said his store, like most other stores, was uninsured
\n"because insurance firms refuse to cater to market traders."<\/p>\n
He lamented the fact that security officers had not managed to
\nsecure the area until 2 p.m. The fight broke out early in the
\nmorning.<\/p>\n
"If someone had decided to set fire to the stores we would all
\nhave had our shops destroyed in just 10 minutes," Benny said.<\/p>\n
The clash meant traders lost business on the last day before
\nRamadhan which was always a busy day. Yesterday, the first day of
\nRamadhan, was typical of Ramadhan in that trade was very slow.<\/p>\n
Benny, who has operated in Tanah Abang for 12 years, said his
\nstore lost at least Rp 1 million in sales.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the market's security guards were of no use and
\nmany ran away. "Well we know they're good only for chasing
\nthieves," one trader said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile gang members said they would kill rival gang members
\ndetained by security officers if they were released.<\/p>\n
John, a member of one of the gangs which was led by a man
\nnamed Hercules, said the other gang "must move elsewhere."<\/p>\n
The fight was over territory for extorting traders.
\n(jun\/anr\/ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/authorities-vow-to-secure-vulnerable-areas-1447893297",
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