Angry mob destroys buildings

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Angry over the results of their village head election, hundreds of Sokawera villagers in Banyumas district, Central Java, vandalized the district and village administration offices on Tuesday evening.

The mob, made up mostly of local youths, also damaged four houses and looted a shop.

No fatalities were reported. Local police by Wednesday had arrested 27 villagers, including Sudir, 43, a former village head.

Banyumas Police chief Lt. Col. Johnny H. Hutahuruk said on Wednesday that Sudir, who lost the recent village head election, was believed to have incited the riot.

"We have detained him. The information we have is that he's the mastermind of the riots," Johnny said.

He said the villagers ran amok to show their dissatisfaction with the election process and its result, which saw 45-year-old Rahmat Suwendi elected as the new village head.

"The residents rejected the result. They staged protests shortly after Rahmat was inaugurated on Saturday last week," Johnny said.

The villagers reported their objections to the Banyumas district chief but received no response.

Upset by the nonresponse, hundreds of villagers vandalized the office of the district chief on Tuesday evening.

The mob destroyed the office furniture, broke windows and damaged the roof of the building, Johnny said.

The mob then traveled two kilometers to the Sokawera village administration office.

The mob also vandalized this office, destroying furniture and documents found in the office.

The mob then destroyed four nearby houses and looted a nearby shop.

The atmosphere in the village was tense as rumors circulated that the mob would burn houses belonging to supporters of the newly elected village chief.

According to Johnny, a joint deployment of 200 police and military personnel were able to halt the mob and restore order. (45/bsr)