Bojong vandalism provoked: Police

Bojong vandalism provoked: Police

Theresia Sufa and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Bogor/Jakarta

Bogor Police said on Tuesday that they suspected that vandalism
at a waste treatment facility in Bojong subdistrict on Monday may
have been provoked by an unidentified group.

"I see irregularities in this case and suspect that a group
may have provoked the locals. The locals no longer respect
authorities, from community units up to the district level,"
chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Although there was no reports of injury, a security post, four
motorcycles and the plant's office were left in ruins as a result
of the violent attack.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso also suspected that outsiders may
have instigated the violence.

"I have contacted the Bogor Police chief (Sr. Comr. Bambang
Wasgito) in connection with the incident. We will await the
result of investigation," Sutiyoso said.

"The incident was clearly a crime. Police must prevent
recurrences of similar violence."

Amir Sagala, an official with the Jakarta Sanitation Agency,
was quick to blame a private developer.

"We received a report that four employees of a private
developer around the plant were involved in mass rallies to
protest the operation of the plant," Sagala said.

Despite strong and violent opposition from locals, Jakarta
insisted that it would stick to its plan to use the facility to
process around 2,000 tons of the capital's 6,000 tons of daily
waste.

Bogor regency spokesman Sjahuri reiterated that the waste
treatment was not the same as the Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi,
which uses a landfill system that had polluted neighboring areas
and caused respiratory problems and skin diseases.

"The resistance of Bojong residents against the existence of
the plant is irrational ... they should give the plant a chance
to operate ... We will close it for good if it is proven to
damage the environment," he said on Tuesday.

The situation around the facility run by PT Wira Sarana
Sejahtera had returned normal on Tuesday. The access road has
been cleared of felled trees and boulders.

Police attempted to mediate between locals and Bogor officials
and the plant operator. However, only eight locals and one
subdistrict chief showed up at the meeting.