'Becak' drivers attack officers

'Becak' drivers attack officers

A fight broke on Thursday between North Jakarta public order
officers and around 200 becak (pedicab) drivers in Sungai Bambu
subdistrict in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

The clash at midday left a car destroyed by fire and another
car damaged, while three officers were injured.

"The public officers were doing their routine job to raid
becak drivers but some drivers opposed the raid so the clash
broke out," said Raya Siahaan, head of the City Social
Disturbances Monitoring Center.

The incident began when around 100 public order officers were
raiding becak on Jl. Gadang, Jl. Pelita and Jl. Tawes in Sungai
Bambu subdistrict and were confronted by around 200 becak
drivers.

No fatalities were reported during the one-hour incident.

Three officers -- Dian Syafril, Purwanto and Noval -- were
taken to hospital. There no reported injuries among the becak
drivers.

North Jakarta police chief, Sr. Comr. Andi Chaerudin, said
police had been deployed to the scene after the brawl erupted.

"The condition has returned to normal," Andi said.

He said police were yet to detain any suspects in the
incident. However, he said police would continue to investigate.

"The damaged car belonging to the public order office was
taken to the North Jakarta police headquarter as evidence," he
said. --JP