Buildings burned in Matraman brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Five buildings were burned but no fatalities reported following a vicious brawl between residents of Kebon Manggis and Palmeriam in the Matraman area of East Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

Matraman police chief Maj. Marsidi said on Tuesday that the buildings burned included a notary office and a building belonging to the Navy.

"They were throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, and some were using air guns. The fight began on Sunday night, when several pak ogah (unofficial parking attendants) started to fight over who would handle road traffic in the area of Jl. Matraman Raya," Marsidi said.

"On Monday night, the fight went on till 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Today (Tuesday), it began again at about 5:20 p.m. and lasted till about 7 p.m. It started again at 8 p.m. and went on until 9 p.m."

Separately, a resident in the area said that the burned buildings were comprised of a few empty houses, a public telephone service center and the notary office. (ylt)