Cilacap people remain on edge<\/p>\n
CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Residents braced for another
\nseries of unrest last night in the usually quiet coastal town of
\nCilacap, despite the presence of military troops.<\/p>\n
At 9 p.m. last night mobs were seen stoning several shops, but
\nsecurity forces quickly chased them away. Residents were
\npreparing for the worst after nervous calm had been restored
\nduring the day.<\/p>\n
Saturday night's rampage spilled over into dawn yesterday as
\nmobs ran amok, attacking houses and general goods stores selling
\nbasic commodities.<\/p>\n
Cilacap Police reported that it had received reports of 27
\nlocations being attacked since Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Witnesses saw at least 10 houses being raided and ransacked
\nalong with three stores, including a bicycle shop.<\/p>\n
But after dawn there were no reports of further flare-ups.<\/p>\n
Cilacap Police precinct chief Lt. Col. Andi Lolo told The
\nJakarta Post last night that reinforcements were being sent from
\nYogyakarta to beef up the some 750 security forces already here.<\/p>\n
\"The rampage last night (Saturday night and early Sunday
\nmorning) was intolerable. They looted and burned houses and
\nshops,\" Andi said.<\/p>\n
So far there have been no reports of casualties.<\/p>\n
According to Andi, 62 people have been detained, of which 27
\nhave officially been classified as suspects.<\/p>\n
Local military resort commander, Col. M. Noer Muis, admitted
\nthat during the day the situation was relatively stable. However,
\nat night people quickly began to cluster in mobs and went on a
\nrampage.<\/p>\n
\"Generally speaking, the unrest caused by the fishermen (at
\nthe port area) is under control, but it has now spread to shops,
\nparticularly those selling fishing equipment, even to stores
\nselling basic commodities,\" Noer said.<\/p>\n
The unrest began Friday when thousands of fishermen ran amok
\nat the Nusantara Fishery port in reaction to unfair fishing
\npractices in the area.<\/p>\n
Ten trawlers, four cars and 120 fishing nets were burned and
\nat least four other vehicles pushed into the sea.<\/p>\n
The mayhem started when angry fishermen entered the fishing
\nport premises and set fire to moored boats owned by fishermen
\nfrom Bagansiapi-api, Riau.<\/p>\n
Local fishermen claimed of a large social disparity between
\nthem and fishermen from Bagansiapi-api.<\/p>\n
Workers employed on the trawlers have also frequently
\ncomplained of being paid too little, an average of Rp 2,000 per
\nday.<\/p>\n
Andi yesterday claimed the rioting fishermen had now been
\n\"infiltrated\" by certain groups and that the 27 suspects were not
\nfishermen.<\/p>\n
Security officials yesterday also held meetings with local
\nfishermen groups to urge calm. \"They agreed but pointed out that
\nafter Friday's calamity, they had nothing to do with the attacks
\ntaking place,\" Andi said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Semarang, Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, chief of the
\nDiponegoro Military Command supervising Central Java and
\nYogyakarta, claimed the situation was under control.<\/p>\n
He called on Cilacap residents to resume their daily
\nactivities and not be influenced by misleading rumors sowed by
\ncertain parties to create chaos in the town. (45\/har\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cilacap-people-remain-on-edge-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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