Residents live in fear after brawl in Kalijodo<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Residents living near the Kalijodo gambling and brothel complex
\nin North Jakarta, lamented their fate after fire razed their
\nhomes and their belongings early on Friday.<\/p>\n
The fire was triggered by a brawl between two groups of thugs
\nconnected with the brothel complex.<\/p>\n
Parinah, a 45-year-old resident, said in tears that all her
\nbelongings collected over 33 years had vanished in just two
\nhours.<\/p>\n
\"I lost my television set, refrigerator and my savings of Rp
\n1.5 million (US$147) in just two hours. The equipment and
\ningredients which I just bought for Saturday's business were also
\ndestroyed,\" said the nasi ulam (steamed rice with vegetables and
\nmeat) vendor in Pluit market, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"It also destroyed my source of income. I could only save
\nmyself and brought nothing but the clothes I was wearing. I have
\nto start all over again now.\"<\/p>\n
Parinah -- who has lived in Kalijodo since 1967 -- is
\ncurrently taking shelter with her four children and 12
\ngrandchildren, who used to live together under the same roof, at
\nthe Tambora District Office in West Jakarta, which is just 100
\nmeters from her house.<\/p>\n
Over 300 residents sought refuge at the office which has
\nprovided them with a public kitchen and bedding.<\/p>\n
Parinah said she had no plans in the near future. To restart
\nher business, she would need at least Rp 5 million.<\/p>\n
\"Perhaps my grandchildren and I will stay temporarily in my
\nsister's house in Jelambar, West Jakarta. But I think they're
\nstill busy cleaning their house after the flood. We may have to
\nstay for a while at this office,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Despite all her losses, Parinah was still afraid of pointing
\nthe finger at a particular group to be held responsible for the
\nfire. They have terrorized local residents, she said.<\/p>\n
\"If I had money, I would have moved years ago. Unfortunately I
\nhad no choice,\" she complained, adding that she had to give at
\nleast Rp 10,000 daily in protection money to the hoodlums.<\/p>\n
A similar experience was expressed by Nico, not his real name,
\nwhose two-story house was razed by fire.<\/p>\n
\"It was my grandfather's which he built in the 1940s when he
\nwas on duty to guard the floodgate. Now, the house which was
\nworth Rp 160 million was leveled to the ground. Luckily, I
\nalready moved my things earlier before the first riot broke out
\non Feb. 16.,\" said Nico, who pledged to take revenge on the
\nhoodlums.<\/p>\n
Although he has another house in Parung Panjang, Bogor
\nregency, Nico stayed in Kalijodo, fearing that otherwise, the
\nthugs would have looted his property.<\/p>\n
\"When I start my life in Parung, I want to live a normal life.
\nDefinitely not like life in Kalijodo. Just imagine what it is
\nlike when you're threatened daily by riots, brawls and other
\nviolence. But at the same time the inherited land was valuable to
\nme,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nico, who works at a private company, not only lost his house
\nbut also a boarding house and a motorcycle parking lot. From both
\nthese sources of income, he could earn at least Rp 4 million a
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Both victims were still grateful that they were able to escape
\nthe fire.<\/p>\n
\"Several hoodlums tried to prevent me from leaving my house.
\nBut I forced my way out as the fire was about to engulf my
\nhouse,\" Parihah recalled.<\/p>\n
Nico, who lived right across from the hoodlum's headquarters,
\nexplained the thugs had pelted stones at locals residents when
\nthey attempted to escape.<\/p>\n
\"They wouldn't let us get out of the alley, they tried to burn
\nus to death.\"<\/p>\n
Two companies of Mobile Brigade Police consisting of about 200
\npersonnel and the intelligence division were seen guarding and
\npatrolling the site.<\/p>\n
At least 200 houses were burned down during the brawl between
\ngroups of thugs representing two ethnic groups of South Sulawesi
\nearly on Friday as a continuation of the Feb. 16 brawl which
\nclaimed one life.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residents-live-in-fear-after-brawl-in-kalijodo-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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