Tanah Abang rocked by riot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A violent clash between hundreds of roadside
\nvendors and city public order officials in Tanah Abang, Central
\nJakarta, culminated yesterday in the burning of two municipal
\nbuildings and seven cars.<\/p>\n
The enraged vendors burned the district head's office and the
\nfire also gutted part of a nearby Ministry of Religious Affairs
\noffice.<\/p>\n
The vendors, yelling "the officials are killers", then tried
\nto run away. Eight of them were arrested.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's riot, in which there were no casualties,
\nunderlined Tanah Abang's status as one of the city's "hottest
\nareas" after a gang war took place there earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses said the violence, which erupted at 10:30 a.m.,
\nstarted after public order officials raided the vendors,
\nconfiscated merchandise and arrested a vendor named Ujang.<\/p>\n
Tanah Abang is a haven for roadside vendors during Ramadhan as
\nthe mayoralty provides them with legal business spaces.<\/p>\n
The traders said they were provoked after five public order
\nofficials drove over their wares, hitting one person. Unconfirmed
\nrumors circulated that the trader died after the accident.<\/p>\n
The vendors then attacked the patrol vehicles while the
\nofficials escaped on foot. The vendors pelted the officials' cars
\nwith anything they could find, turning them all upside down, and
\nsetting one on fire.<\/p>\n
Of the city's public order officials' six cars, five were
\nbadly damaged and one was completely burned.<\/p>\n
The situation became more inflamed as the angry traders,
\nswelled by other people into a 500-strong mob, rushed to the
\nTanah Abang district head's office on Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur. There
\nthey overturned a car belonging to the deputy head of the
\ndistrict, M. Abdurachman, and burned it. The owner reportedly
\nfainted after witnessing the incident.<\/p>\n
After burning the cars, the rioters proceeded to the district
\nhead's office, doused the building with gasoline taken from the
\ncars, and torched the three-story building.<\/p>\n
Only one fire truck was available in Central Jakarta as all
\nthe others had been deployed to fight the fire which ravaged the
\nHarco shopping complex in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Pedestrians and passersby dispersed as the clash erupted and
\nthe streets in the area became silent. The majority of shops
\nclosed.<\/p>\n
The authorities blocked the roads and diverted the traffic,
\ncausing chaos for more than four hours.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of police and troops, armed with iron shields, rattan
\nsticks and rifles, took four hours to disperse the mob. Traders
\nin the market building and street vendors resumed business as
\nusual at around 2:30 p.m..<\/p>\n
City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata confirmed the arrests
\nof the eight vendors, saying that the number would probably
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
The eight people were identified as Daniel (22), Alex Chandra
\n(25), Sudirman (20), Hendrik (12), Hendi (20), Willian (16), Ade
\nKomarudin (20) and Hendra Chaniago (25).<\/p>\n
The City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso denied the
\nrumors of the death of a vendor.<\/p>\n
"Nobody was killed in the incident. The city public order
\nofficials did their duty according to procedure," Sutiyoso said
\nat a fast-breaking gathering at the City Military Headquarters in
\nEast Jakarta last night.<\/p>\n
Responding to Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi's statements
\nthat hoodlums were probably behind the riot, Sutiyoso said that
\nan investigation was already underway.<\/p>\n
"We will clean the area of all hoodlums if we find they are
\nbehind the violence," he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether hoodlums were supported by the Jakarta Military,
\nthe two-star general said the military did not protect any
\nhoodlums. "Why should we protect them?" he responded.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 9, a street battle involving two gangs led by the
\nnotorious hoodlums Hercules and Iyus, erupted over "business
\nterritory."<\/p>\n
Tanah Abang is the center of Jakarta's textile trade with an
\nestimated daily turnover of billions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
The gang members emerged with swords and other weapons ready
\nto kill their opponents. Hundreds of police and troops were
\ndeployed to avoid massive bloodshed. The antagonists was
\ndispersed after four hours of brawling.<\/p>\n
At least 20 people were arrested after the clash, but no
\ncasualties were reported. (ste\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanah-abang-rocked-by-riot-1447893297",
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