Matraman residents will hold ceremony in Kalibata<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In connection with the Youth Pledge Day,
\nresidents of the brawl-ridden Matraman area in East Jakarta will
\nhold a ceremony at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in South
\nJakarta on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, organized by the Matraman Residents
\nCommunication Forum (FKPMM), will involve some 400 students from
\nall schools in the area and representatives of some other schools
\nin the capital.<\/p>\n
Forum chairman, Anang Mansyur, told reporters that the event
\nwas part of the effort to remind young Jakartans not to get
\neasily involved in mass neighborhood brawls.<\/p>\n
He said the program would also include free medical check-ups
\nfor all Matraman residents, to be provided by the Indonesian
\nMedical Association (IDI) until Nov. 21, and a dancing and art
\nfestival for young people.<\/p>\n
"Young people are often blamed from triggering unrest in the
\nneighborhood. They must realize that they are one and should try
\nto restore peace and order in the area," said Anang.<\/p>\n
Residents of the Palmeriam and Kebon Manggis subdistricts in
\nMatraman have had a long history of destructive brawls, causing
\ndozens of fatalities, and resulting in some 400 people who used
\nto earn their living in the area losing their jobs.<\/p>\n
During the clashes, residents of both areas pelt stones and
\nMolotov cocktails at each other. Some of them, mostly young
\npeople, even arm themselves with air rifles, swords, sickles,
\nsmoke bombs and firecrackers.<\/p>\n
Various efforts have been made to end the prolonged conflict,
\nincluding the establishment of the forum on May 7, aimed at
\nbridging the divide between the two neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
Others efforts which have been made include the erection of a
\ntwo-meter-high steel barrier on the median strip along Jl.
\nMatraman, the provision of sports equipment, and the
\nestablishment of a watch post at the Gramedia building, jointly
\nmanned by residents of the two neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
In the latest brawl, which was triggered by the death of a
\nKebon Manggis resident on Oct. 8, the mobs demolished parts of
\nthe newly constructed barrier.<\/p>\n
The victim, identified as Yosef Suryahadi, who worked as a
\nparking attendant in the area, was stabbed in the head, face and
\nright arm by a group of unidentified men.<\/p>\n
Anang said the case was purely criminal, citing that there
\nwere no brawls preceding the murder.<\/p>\n
"We urge the police to probe this case soon," he said. (07)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/matraman-residents-will-hold-ceremony-in-kalibata-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }