Ujungpandang under control<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Security authorities were
\nin control over this riot-torn city although the situation
\nremained tense with sporadic disruptions yesterday following
\nMonday night's outbreak of violence.<\/p>\n
Thousands of troops and police were seen standing on alert
\nalong the streets throughout the day.<\/p>\n
Business centers and schools remained closed as shock and fear
\noverwhelmed most parts of the city.<\/p>\n
Thousands rioted on Monday night and Tuesday following the
\nmurder of a 9-year-old girl identified as Anni Mujahidah
\nRasulullah by an ethnic Chinese youth identified as Benny, who
\nwas later declared to be mentally ill.<\/p>\n
Benny was also killed in retaliation by a mob.<\/p>\n
Many residents placed placards and wooden planks in front of
\ntheir homes and shops yesterday saying they were Moslems or
\nindigenous people. Others displayed either their praying mats
\n(sajadah) or clothes to notify they were Moslems.<\/p>\n
A small number of drivers who had the courage to drive through
\ntown were also seen showing sajadah through their car windows.<\/p>\n
Fire continued to raze shops on Jl. Irian, Jl. Urip Sumohardjo
\nand Jl. Nusantara yesterday afternoon. Witnesses said some shops
\nwere often left burning as fire departments ran out of water to
\nextinguish the fires.<\/p>\n
Masses of people shrugged off tight security measures around
\nKarebosi soccer field trying to force themselves to the ethnic
\nChinese district.<\/p>\n
But the security forces managed to keep them at bay.<\/p>\n
Separately, angry students of the Alaudin state-run Islamic
\nInstitute launched a demonstration at their campus yesterday.
\nWitnesses said security forces opened fire after the mob began to
\nburn rubber stacks.<\/p>\n
Chief of the provincial police Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah told a
\npress conference later on the day that eight people were wounded
\nin the incident. Hanafiah said they included a fireman who was
\nshot by accident as he was extinguishing the fire.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of casualties.<\/p>\n
Hanafiah said yesterday that as of Tuesday, eight night clubs,
\na Buddhist temple, a Protestant church, 25 shops, 10 cars and 58
\nmotorcycles were burned.<\/p>\n
Another 67 cars, 100 motorcycles and 1,471 shops were damaged,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Death toll<\/p>\n
According to Ali, the death toll in the riot aftermath
\nincreased to six when the remains of two women at a razed pub on
\nJl. Nusantara were found yesterday.<\/p>\n
Hanafiah said as of yesterday over 200 people had been
\nquestioned, but 70 of them have been released. Most of them were
\ndetained for their alleged role in the riots and looting.<\/p>\n
\"Those who are found guilty will face legal procedures,\"
\nHanafiah said.<\/p>\n
Hanafiah made his statement yesterday during a press briefing
\nwhich was also attended by Governor Zainal Basri Palaguna, Chief
\nof Wirabuana Military Command Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar,
\nUjungpandang Mayor Malik Masry, chief of the Fourth Naval Base
\nRear Adm. Hary Mulyo and chief of the Second Air Base Operational
\nCommand Rear Marshal Suparno Muanan, at the provincial police
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Agum said security authorities in self defense shot two
\nrioters on Tuesday. The two men suffered injuries to their feet.<\/p>\n
Hanafiah said some 300 ethnic Chinese had sought refuge at
\nUjungpandang Police Headquarters following Tuesday's riots.<\/p>\n
By yesterday evening only 80 remained there.<\/p>\n
Agum had warned on Tuesday that security forces would
\nestablish a curfew if riots did not cease.<\/p>\n
\"But we prefer persuasive measures first, because we know the
\nmasses will not act brutally,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, mourners continued to pour into the house of Anni's
\nfather, Jubaedi Saleh, yesterday. Anni, the only daughter of
\nJubaedi and his wife Noer Huda Noor, had just celebrated her
\nninth birthday Friday. The body of Anni was buried on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jubaedi, who heads a foundation that manages a local Islamic
\nschool, said his wife gave birth to Anni in a caesarean section.
\n(30\/31\/37\/amd)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ujungpandang-under-control-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }