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)