Brothel guard killed by police in Yogya brawl

Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

One person was shot dead and another was severely injured in a fracas early on Wednesday morning in the resort city of Yogyakarta between five police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members and a group of people.

The fatal clash took place in the city's Pasar Kembang red light area.

The dead man was identified as Waludi alias Klowor, a 37-year old resident of Tegalrejo village. He was shot in the head by a Brimob member, identified only by his rank and initials, First Brig. A.S.

Meanwhile, Klowor's friend Dedi Susilo alias Gundul survived the melee, but sustained gunshot wounds to his face.

"Actually, our men did not intend to shoot them in the head, but they were involved in a full-contact brawl," said Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudarsono, chief of the Yogyakarta Provincial Police's information center.

He defended the shooting of Klowor and Gundul by the Brimob officers, arguing that they had fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.

Gundul underwent intensive medical treatment in the Bethesda hospital after doctors conducted surgery to remove a bullet lodged behind his nose.

Sudarsono said the five police personnel were being questioned by local police internal affairs. "Whether or not we will arrest them depends on the outcome of the questioning," he said.

Separately, Yogyakarta District Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sabar Raharjo said the incident was sparked by a "misunderstanding" between the five policemen and Gundul, which led to a minor brawl. Local residents managed, however, to temporarily calm the two sides down.

A few minutes later, though, Gundul along with at least ten supporters armed with sharp weapons returned to the scene and suddenly attacked the five policemen, he said.

Sabar said two of the five police officers shot Gundul and Klowor when they found themselves surrounded.

Yogyakarta's Brimob chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Joko Irianto said that his five men, who were in plainclothes at the time, were conducting a routine patrol when they became involved in the dispute.

"They were not wearing uniforms as they are members of the Mobile Brigade intelligence section," Joko added.

A resident of Sosrowijayan, who asked for anonymity, said that Gundul and Klowor were informal security guards in the Pasar Kembang prostitution complex.

He said the complex was controlled by hoodlums who were linked to the United Development Party (PPP). "We just didn't expect any revenge attack by the friends of Gundul and Klowor here," he said.

Brawls have frequently broken out in Yogyakarta between supporters of the PPP and their rivals affiliated with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

However, it was not clear whether Wednesday's clash was linked to the ongoing political rivalry between the two parties.