Prisoners riot in Bandung, several escape<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
Hundreds of prisoners at the Kebon Waru Penitentiary in Bandung,
\nWest Java, were involved in an extremely intense riot on
\nThursday, damaging the warden's office and smashing windows and
\nother property inside the prison.<\/p>\n
No serious injuries were reported but a number of prisoners
\nwho were involved in the riot managed to escape, others were
\nbeing interrogated by police.<\/p>\n
Prison wardens fired warning shots several times to control
\nthe rampage, and they nearly failed to stop a full-scale breakout
\nas the rioters made it to the prison gates before finally being
\nstopped.<\/p>\n
At least 10 buildings, including the dining room, sustained
\ndamage. The angry prisoners also destroyed prison property such
\nas chairs and typewriters.<\/p>\n
The rioting occurred after a number of inmates occupying
\nblocks C and D were involved in a fierce dispute early on
\nThursday morning. However, the motive behind the dispute was not
\nclear.<\/p>\n
Following a few hours of tense silence, the situation turned
\nugly at around 10 a.m. local time when hundreds of inmates ran
\namok, somehow escaping from their respective blocks and hurling
\nstones and other debris at the warden's office before completely
\noverrunning the building.<\/p>\n
Other prisoners from block E, not wanting to miss out on a
\ngood opportunity, later joined the rampage, making the situation
\nworse for guards and prison administrators. The incident caused
\nwidespread panic among many, including several visitors who
\nfainted from fear.<\/p>\n
Fifteen minutes later, district police arrived on the scene
\nand immediately dispersed the rioters by firing warning shots to
\nget the rampaging prisoners back into their respective cells.<\/p>\n
The police later swept the cells to disarm the prisoners.<\/p>\n
Central Bandung District Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr.
\nEdwardsyah Pernong said that based on the findings of a
\npreliminary investigation, the riot was strongly believed to have
\nbeen provoked by three prisoners who were planning an escape
\nattempt.<\/p>\n
The three were Asep Kawat, convicted of robbery, Asep Cipuk,
\ncharged with murder and Oyok, who was convicted of grand theft
\nauto.<\/p>\n
\"It (the riot) was merely the threesome's manipulative
\nprovocation to shift the guards' attention so they could escape,\"
\nEdwardsyah claimed.<\/p>\n
However, Kawat, Cipuk and Oyok were not among those who
\nmanaged to flee from the prison.<\/p>\n
The police interrogated the three and six others who were
\nfound in possession of machetes and marijuana.<\/p>\n
To prevent possible further unrest, at least 20 police
\nofficers were deployed on a round-the-clock basis to provide
\ngreater security inside the prison.<\/p>\n
Edwardsyah said the prison, which has a capacity of only
\n1,472, was seriously overcrowded as it currently is home to some
\n2,200 prisoners. There was also a disproportionately low number
\nof guards.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot imagine how only five guards would be able to
\nsecure such a crowded jail,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, the police chief admitted that, based on the
\npreliminary investigation, the riots were mainly incited by the
\nprisoners' dissatisfaction over the warden's and guards' unlawful
\ntreatment.<\/p>\n
The people in charge there have often blackmailed prisoners,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Apart from that, Edwardsyah said the prisoners were
\ncomplaining about the terrible food and health services they
\nreceived in the prison.<\/p>\n
At least one prisoner has reportedly died each month from
\nillness in the past year.<\/p>\n
Dedi Sutardi, head of the Kebon Waru prison, was not at the
\nscene during the riot as he was in Bali, to attend his
\ninauguration as new chief of the Grobokan penitentiary in
\nDenpasar.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prisoners-riot-in-bandung-several-escape-1447893297",
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