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