Mob vandalize Tangerang Council<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of people ran amok and vandalized the
\nTangerang Council building on Monday morning during a rally
\ndemanding the resignation of four councillors from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjaungan).<\/p>\n
The mob, who claimed to be local residents, also beat one of
\nthe four councillors and another man who initially joined the
\nrally but later told journalists at the scene that he took part
\nin the rally under the order of the council speaker.<\/p>\n
With posters and banners, the protesters accused the four
\ncouncillors of having betrayed Tangerang Council Speaker, Gian
\nSugiharsono, who is from the same party.<\/p>\n
Security personnel from the Tangerang Police station, which is
\nabout 500 meters from the council building, arrived at the scene
\none hour after the vandalism began.<\/p>\n
Up to Monday evening, none of the police officers were willing
\nto explain their late arrival to secure the building and the
\nsafety of the councillors.<\/p>\n
The two wounded victims in the incident were identified as
\ncouncillor Teddy Subrata and Ahmad Sanusi, a resident of the
\nPasar Kemis area.<\/p>\n
Teddy, chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction at the council, who
\nsuffered serious wounds to his head, doubted the protesters were
\nlocal PDI Perjuangan supporters.<\/p>\n
"None of the attackers identified me. They just beat me up
\nblindly. I really regret this incident and I will simply let the
\nlocal police probe the case," Teddy said after receiving four
\nstitches.<\/p>\n
Sanusi was attacked by other protesters after he told
\nreporters that he and the protesters staged the rally at the
\ncouncil building based on the order of Gian, who promised to pay
\nthem after the mission was completed.<\/p>\n
"I was at home when the council speaker called me by phone to
\njoin a rally at the council building and promised to give us
\nmoney later," Sanusi said.<\/p>\n
He sustained serious injuries to the head and was immediately
\nrushed to the nearby Tangerang Hospital for treatment.<\/p>\n
Police have so far made no arrests. But they questioned at
\nleast several councillors, including Teddy and those from other
\nfactions, as witnesses.<\/p>\n
Speaker Gian could not be reached for further comment.<\/p>\n
The protesters started gathering around the council building
\ncomplex on the busy street of Jl. Nyimas Melati at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n
According to them, Teddy and the three other councillors from
\nPDI Perjuangan, namely Dedy Safei, Sri Hartati and Hasaduddin
\nBijei should resign from their position at the council because
\nthe four members betrayed their own party.<\/p>\n
The four PDI Perjuangan members, they said, had voted for a
\nmotion of no confidence to be passed against speaker Gian.<\/p>\n
Neither the protesters, nor Teddy, were willing to give any
\nfurther explanations about the case.<\/p>\n
"These four councillors are no longer fit for their current
\nposts. They are traitors," cried one of the protesters.<\/p>\n
The mob then smashed the building's windows and damaged
\nseveral pieces of equipment inside. (41\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mob-vandalize-tangerang-council-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}