Bogor hotel destroyed by hundreds of locals

BOGOR (JP): Mobs destroyed on Saturday night a hotel on Jl. Bogor Raya in Nanggewer village, Cibinong district, for allegedly housing "immoral activities".

No fatalities were reported in the fray, but the incident led to heavy traffic congestion along the street, which is usually glutted with vehicles during weekends.

With sharp weapons and stones in hand, hundreds of locals from Nanggewer and Sampora of Cibinong district and Sentul of Citeureup district stormed Wisma Ariko at 10 p.m. and began vandalizing the establishment.

Witnesses said at least three couples escaped by going to the rooftop of the two-story building, while the crowd below dragged television sets, beds and various pieces of furniture to the road and set them on fire.

"The mob was also about to torch the building but they decided not to do so, worrying that the fire could spread to a nearby community health center, the Islamic boarding school, Anidzom, and a candy factory," Dayat, a resident of Nanggewer, said.

He said the villagers were angry as they accused the hotel of camouflaging as a den for prostitution.

"The locals here are not ready to accept such an immoral practice.

"They still think it's taboo and, therefore, they think that all the hotels and motels here are housing the same immoral activities, especially since Wisma Ariko is located near an Islamic boarding school," Dayat explained.

The hotel is usually crowded with guests every day, Dayat said, adding that the room rate was only Rp 25,000 (US$3.40) for a short visit.

The owner could not be reached for comment. Locals said the owner left the destroyed building on Sunday and details about the losses were not available.

The case, which is being handled by the Bogor Police, is pending further investigation.

Calls to put an end to alleged practices of prostitution, gambling and drugs at nightspots in Bogor and Puncak, the popular mountain resort, have triggered attacks and cases of arson at dozens of similar places in recent months.

In November last year, rioters set fire to and destroyed 13 hotels and nightspots in Cipayung and Cisarua subdistricts in Puncak, following reports that they were used as brothels and centers for drug distribution.

More than 2,000 workers were laid off after the incident.

Bogor Police have not yet been able to identify those involved in destroying the hotels and nightspots in Cipayung and Cisarua. (21/edt)