Burning of office investigated

Burning of office investigated

BOGOR (JP): Police are currently investigating the destruction
and burning of an office owned by PT Beauty Mulyanto, a firm
which manages sand quarrying, at Tamansari village in Rumpin
district here Sunday, an official said yesterday.

Bogor police chief Lt. Col. Ferial Manaf said that, based on
information from witnesses, about 100 people who were involved in
the mayhem arrived at the site in two trucks at about 9 a.m.

"We are still investigating the case, including financial
losses and the details of the owners of the trucks. No one has
been detained so far," he said.

Ferial said that police had the characteristics of the two
trucks, including one of their number plates.

Besides burning the office, the people also damaged three
dredgers, two sand extractors, one welding machine, 12 drums of
diesel oil and four drums of lubricating oil, he said.

He reckoned that the incident was sparked by dissatisfaction
with the company's operations. "The local residents are against
the firm as waste thrown away from the quarrying process into the
Cimanceuri river affects paddy fields in nearby villages," he
said.

"This difference has been discussed several times by
representatives of both sides but no agreement has been reached.
This lengthy negotiation process apparently sparked the
residents' anger," he said. (24/hhr)