Firecrackers injure holiday revelers<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The police arrested 137 people on the eve of Idul Fitri
\ncelebrations (Lebaran) last Saturday night, mostly for setting
\noff firecrackers, a senior police officer said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Those people were detained for allegedly disrupting public
\norder in the night before the takbiran (post-fasting parade on
\nthe last day of Ramadhan),\" City Police Detective Chief Sr. Comr.
\nBambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Bambang said of the 137 people, one was detained for marijuana
\npossession, another 10 for carrying weapons, while the remainder
\ncomprised those setting off firecrackers.<\/p>\n
Those arrested were taken to the City Police Headquarters for
\na marathon examination on Saturday, Bambang said.<\/p>\n
\"Some will be released soon if the evidence isn't sufficient
\nfor the police to detain them much longer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Relatives of the detainees were seen waiting in corridors near
\nthe examination room, hoping for the release of family members.<\/p>\n
Comr. Chairul, the head of the United States Embassy's
\nsecurity police, said it had confiscated four bags of
\nfirecrackers near Monas, but no one had been detained.<\/p>\n
Despite being banned, firecrackers injured a dozen
\npeople during Idul Fitri celebrations in the last three days.<\/p>\n
Four among them are Azwar, Suwardi, Sri Haryanto and Doni, who
\nwere all injured by firecrackers' explosion during a takbiran
\n(Post-fasting parade at the last night of Ramadhan) last
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Azwar, 10, a resident of Cidodol, South Jakarta, suffered an
\neye injury when a firecracker exploded in his face. He was
\ntreated at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.<\/p>\n
Suwardi, 24, a resident of Kayu Putih, East Jakarta, was also
\ninjured in the right eye and was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo for
\ntreatment on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Sri Haryanto, 24, a resident of South Meruya, West Jakarta,
\nneeded stitches in his left hand after being injured by a
\nfirecracker.<\/p>\n
Another victim, Doni, 12, a resident of Duri Pulo, West
\nJakarta, lost the use of both legs in a firecracker explosion.<\/p>\n
The Takbiran was also marred by unruly behavior and extortion
\nby roving gangs.<\/p>\n
They threw firecrackers at passing cars, and demanded that
\npassing motorists and pedestrians give them money or cigarettes.
\nThose who refused had their cars trampled on, or were assaulted.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that some people threw live firecrackers along
\nJl. Jend., M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Gajah Mada at passing cars, while
\nsecurity officers stood by and watched.<\/p>\n
In other places, such as in Tanah Abang and Roxi, the rowdy
\npeople also gathered together in the middle of roads, causing
\nheavy traffic jams.<\/p>\n
Several people interviewed by the news agency sharply
\ncondemned the incidents -- while singling the police for failing
\nto take any action.<\/p>\n
The security officers were seen guarding only strategic places
\nsuch as the Indosat building, the U.S. Embassy and the Vice
\nPresidential Palace.<\/p>\n
\"I regretted the incidents -- Takbiran should bring peace, not
\nrestlessness, to the public; I'm afraid this could tarnish the
\nimage of Islam,\" Muhammad Ridwan, a resident, told Antara.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/firecrackers-injure-holiday-revelers-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}