Authorities vow to secure vulnerable areas

JAKARTA (JP): The municipality will help intelligence officers secure Tanah Abang and other vulnerable Central Jakarta areas, Mayor Abdul Kahfi said yesterday.

The municipality would cooperate with the Jakarta agency for the coordination of support for the development of national stability at least until the general elections in May, Kahfi said.

He was talking about what was being done after gangs clashed at the Tanah Abang market, Thursday.

Kahfi did not elaborate on the cooperation but said the gang members detained should be thoroughly investigated and brought to court "because they are a menace to the public."

Business was back to normal at the market yesterday as stores and banks reopened and vendors filled the sidewalks.

Security officers and gang members were still on guard in case there was more trouble.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said "everything is under control" and said he was grateful that "nobody was incited by rumors."

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim said 20 people arrested in the clash were being held at the City Military Command.

"The military command handled the case and will mediate to make peace between the two gangs," Ibrahim said.

He said the military command was handling the case instead of police because there were too many parties involved like hoodlums, traders, and others.

"It is rather complicated," he said.

However, he said police would increase surveillance of the gangs' activities in Central Jakarta's markets and shopping centers.

He said police confiscated at least 18 sharp weapons, including several samurai swords during the riot.

Meanwhile, traders said they were relieved the clashes were over but worried the violence could erupt again.

Benny, a textile trader, said he immediately closed his shop when people began scurrying into the store because they feared the clash would spark ethnic violence which would put many of the Chinese-Indonesian traders and their stores at risk.

Benny said his store, like most other stores, was uninsured "because insurance firms refuse to cater to market traders."

He lamented the fact that security officers had not managed to secure the area until 2 p.m. The fight broke out early in the morning.

"If someone had decided to set fire to the stores we would all have had our shops destroyed in just 10 minutes," Benny said.

The clash meant traders lost business on the last day before Ramadhan which was always a busy day. Yesterday, the first day of Ramadhan, was typical of Ramadhan in that trade was very slow.

Benny, who has operated in Tanah Abang for 12 years, said his store lost at least Rp 1 million in sales.

Witnesses said the market's security guards were of no use and many ran away. "Well we know they're good only for chasing thieves," one trader said.

Meanwhile gang members said they would kill rival gang members detained by security officers if they were released.

John, a member of one of the gangs which was led by a man named Hercules, said the other gang "must move elsewhere."

The fight was over territory for extorting traders. (jun/anr/ste)