Brimob officers, teenagers brawl

Brimob officers, teenagers brawl

JAKARTA (JP): At least five were injured in an unusual brawl
on Saturday night between teenage "punk rockers" and officers of
the elite National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) near the
Moestopo University, which is located close to Plaza Senayan in
South Jakarta.

A local resident, Djefry, said on Sunday that the punks were
hanging out near the university at about 11 p.m. on Saturday,
when a truck carrying Brimob officers in black uniforms passed
by.

"The teenagers started to make fun of the Brimob officers,
which the officers took to heart," Djefry said, as quoted by
Antara.

"A verbal clash followed, and then stones, glasses, and
mineral water bottles started to fly, and the punks, who were
dressed in leather and chains, started running in all
directions."

The teenagers were waiting for a rock concert in a field
nearby the university which had been canceled, and this was the
reason why they were hanging out in the university area.

Funny scenes ensued with the punks, half their heads shaved
and the other half with spiked hair, being chased around by
Brimob officers.

"The fun ended when the punks entered the kitchens of people's
homes. I was shocked to see an officer enter my house and run
around after my brother in the kitchen. He actually hit my
brother in the ribs," Djefry said.

Local residents, he said, got very angry when the officers
failed to differentiate between locals and the punks, and even
started firing their weapons in the air, terrifying the
residents.

"There were men wearing sarong (cloth bound around the waist)
for going to bed ... and the police started chasing after them,"
another resident, Sutopo, said.

"The ear of a resident was badly cut and started bleeding
profusely, because of the crazy act of one officer. We condemn
the irresponsibility of these officers."

A duty officer at the South Jakarta police precinct, Second.
Insp. Robert Deo, confirmed the incident, but said that the
officers were not from his precinct.

"The area is quite calm now. But, I haven't received the
latest information from there yet," he said. (ylt)