Bandung town center sobers up after riot
Bandung town center sobers up after riot
JAKARTA (JP): The Alun-alun district of Bandung slowly
returned to normal yesterday, a day after rioting by thousands of
sidewalk traders, pedicab drivers and security officers.
A number of shops in alun-alun, the town center and site of
the riots, were reopened yesterday but many still had their
shutters down. There were also fewer shoppers than on normal
days, according to Bandung residents contacted by phone
yesterday.
There was a marked absence of the roadside vendors and
pedicabs which normally fill the roadside, replaced by throngs of
security officers, though their number has declined since two
days ago.
The riot on Thursday morning had its origins in the clampdown
enforced by the Bandung municipal office against sidewalk vendors
and pedicab drivers in the city's main shopping area, which had
slowly been going almost two weeks.
That morning, according to one account, rumors circulated that
a pedicab driver was killed in an accident with a vehicle
belonging to the municipal security and order agency.
The accident did occur but the pedicab driver suffered light
injuries and was treated at a hospital. News of his death,
however, quickly gained currency and fueled anger among thousands
of his colleagues and vendors who then decided to march to the
office of the security and order agency.
Ironically, what started as a peaceful but noisy march, turned
into a riot when hundreds of security officers came to block
their path at Alun-alun. The protesters started pelting the shops
and overturning and setting fire to vehicles, including those
belonging to the municipality.
Gatot Rianto of the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) office in
Bandung told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the protest was
originally intended as a gesture of solidarity.
As of yesterday, there was no indication that more
demonstrations would occur, Gatot said.
LBH plans to appeal to the Bandung municipality to review its
policy regarding the presence of pedicab drivers and sidewalk
vendors, stressing that they provide the community with valuable
services.
He also reminded the authorities that thousands of people make
their living from the informal sector. (pwn)