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.