Price protest ends in vandalism<\/p>\n
MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A protest against the rising
\nprices of basic commodities was held in Ende yesterday but ended
\nin vandalism, Regent Frans Gedowolo said.<\/p>\n
The incident, which is the latest in a spate of food riots
\nthat have taken place in several Indonesian cities over the past
\nfew weeks, resulted in damage to at least 16 shops, two cars and
\ntwo motorcycles. Some of the properties were set on fire, while
\nothers were pelted with stones.<\/p>\n
"The disturbance was purely because of the rising prices of
\nbasic commodities," Gedowolo told The Jakarta Post by phone last
\nnight.<\/p>\n
Gedowolo denied rumors that one man was stoned to death during
\nthe disturbance. "It was just a coincidence. A man, a local, not
\na Chinese, died near where the disturbance broke out," he said.<\/p>\n
He gave no other details.<\/p>\n
Resident sources said the disturbance broke out at about
\nmidday. The demonstration involved about 200 people and started
\non Saturday. There was not yet any information as to why it
\nturned violent.<\/p>\n
No arrest was reported. Local police and military authorities
\ncould not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
"The police chief is out in the field monitoring the
\nsituation," a police officer at the Ende police precinct said
\nwhen contacted from Jakarta last night.<\/p>\n
The unrest in Ende has also affected the situation in Maumere,
\nthe Sikka regency, as can be seen by the strong presence of the
\nmilitary and police.<\/p>\n
The disturbance in Ende happened a day after similar unrest
\nbroke out Saturday in the Bima regency in the neighboring West
\nNusa Tenggara province.<\/p>\n
Three shops were set ablaze and seven others damaged during
\nunrest following a demonstration against price hikes that turned
\nviolent.<\/p>\n
"It's returned to normal here now," an on-duty military
\nofficer, First Sergeant Abdullah, told the Post last night,
\nadding, however, that shops remained closed.<\/p>\n
He said "hundreds" of soldiers and police were still "on red
\nalert", guarding the town against more unrest yesterday.<\/p>\n
The incidents were the latest to occur following skyrocketing
\nprices of essential commodities.<\/p>\n
Similar violence has previously broken out in Pasuruan and
\nTuban in East Java; Rembang in Central Java; Ujungpandang in
\nSouth Sulawesi and Donggala in Central Sulawesi. (yac\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/price-protest-ends-in-vandalism-1447893297",
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