Angry residents attack company

Angry residents attack company

Hundreds of Amarek village residents in Cikupa district,
Tangerang, ran amok on Monday afternoon and damaged the office of
PT Bintang Abadi at Jl. Raya Serang km.18.

Suryaman, the village chief, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday
that the attack was sparked by the company's unwillingness to
meet residents' request for Rp 6 million to repair the drainage
system around the company's factory, which borders with the
residents' houses.

Besides damaging the factory's doors, they also attacked two
staff members, Gufron and Kurniawan, inflicting facial injuries.

Suryaman said that residents earlier requested the company
contribute Rp 6 million to pay for the repair of drains around
the factory but its management claimed it was only able to donate
Rp 3 million.

"Residents could not believe that such a big leather company
was only able to contribute Rp 3 million and they felt neglected.
They went to its office and vented their anger," he said.

According to Inding, a security officer at the company, the
company was willing to contribute the amount of money requested
by local residents, but it would be handed out in two phases.

"The company had promised to pay half of the amount requested
but residents continued to insist on the total of Rp 6 million,"
he said.

Several police officers who were deployed to the factory from
Tangerang Police Headquarters managed to calm down the residents
and safeguarded the site to prevent another attack. -- JP