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)