Matraman residents called to settle battle themselves<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi regretted
\nthe seemingly endless dispute between two neighboring residents
\nin the Matraman area, East Jakarta, urging the disputed parties
\nto settle the prolonged battle on their own.<\/p>\n
The police, Nurfaizi said, would do their best to stop the
\nnever-ending battle but could not do it without the help of the
\nwarring neighbors.<\/p>\n
\"Now it's up to the residents whether or not to continue with
\nsuch destructive actions. The police can't work alone,\" he told
\nreporters at city police headquarters.<\/p>\n
\"Noted local figures, such as teachers and religious leaders,
\nshould urge the residents not to become involved in such brawls,\"
\nadded Nurfaizi, who in the morning inspected the area with
\nseveral local officials.<\/p>\n
The brawl between neighboring residents of Kebon Manggis and
\nPalmeriam, along Jl. Matraman, which flared up last Sunday and
\ncontinued on both Tuesday and Friday, was triggered again in the
\nearly hours of Sunday.<\/p>\n
In the latest clash, the mob burned 12 buildings, including
\nshops and residents' houses. No fatalities were reported. As
\nusual, the clash, which has tarnished the lives of the two
\nneighborhoods for so many years, was prompted by a small incident
\nbetween local teenagers.<\/p>\n
Separately contacted on Sunday, city spokesman Muhayat
\nsupported Nurfaizi's remarks, saying that the age-old conflict
\nbetween the Matraman neighbors could only be resolved by the
\ndisputed residents themselves.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Sutiyoso has ordered East Jakarta Mayor Andi
\nMappaganti to reconcile both areas and there has been a meeting
\nfor that purpose. Yet they started fighting again,\" he said over
\nthe phone.<\/p>\n
\"Local figures must urge residents to restrain themselves. The
\ngovernor also said that he suspected there were provocateurs
\ntaking advantage of the situation,\" Muhayat said, but gave no
\nfurther details.<\/p>\n
Mappaganti, who accompanied Nurfaizi on his visit on Sunday,
\nsaid that his office would soon build a two-meter by 400-meter
\nfence to divide the two warring neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\"We'll build the fence soon. We have no other choice,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A Lautan Berlian Mitsubishi showroom and a Sari Kuring
\nrestaurant were destroyed by the fire on Sunday. The total amount
\nof losses was still unknown by the buildings' owners.<\/p>\n
\"Not only did the mob burn the building but they also took the
\nequipment, such as the air-conditioners and computers. Some of
\nthem plundered our spare parts,\" Joni, a staffer at the
\nMitsubishi showroom told reporters.<\/p>\n
Separately, local residents asked the authorities to deploy
\nthe Navy's elite Marine Corps to avoid any brawls in the future.<\/p>\n
\"We can't rely on police officers because residents of Kebon
\nManggis are widely known to be of Army background,\" a teenager
\nsaid on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
Another resident criticized the police for arriving late at
\nthe scene and doing nothing to stop the brawl.<\/p>\n
\"Police only show up in daylight and they disappear at night,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
There were three police trucks and two armored vehicles seen
\nat the location on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Nurfaizi admitted that police were late as they needed some
\ntime to reach the location.<\/p>\n
The officer also criticized residents, who prevented fire
\ntrucks from entering the location to put out the fire.<\/p>\n
\"When the fire trucks arrived, some residents tried to prevent
\nthem from entering the scene. But as they were late, the
\nresidents blamed the city's fire office,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Nurfaizi pledged to take strong action against any anarchic
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"There is no other choice, I will take stern action against
\nall acts of destruction,\" he warned. (nvn)<\/p>",
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