Cilacap back to normal, but tension still palpable

Cilacap back to normal, but tension still palpable

CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Most shops remained shuttered in
this coastal city on Monday and troops patrolled thoroughfares
following three days of rioting that exploded on Friday.

Cilacap police chief Lt. Col. Andi Lolo claimed security had
been completely restored but tension was palpable and hundreds of
police and soldiers were seen stationed at various shopping
complexes.

Activities in the Nusantara Cilacap Fishery Port (PPNC), where
the unrest flared on Friday, slowly returned to normal. However,
fishermen of a number of trawlers belonging to fishery bosses
from Bagansiapi-api in Riau had to kill time for lack of work
after some of the trawlers were burned in the unrest.

"No boats have yet set sail for sea. We are still waiting for
the fishery port's agreement with the Toke (the fishery bosses,
mostly of whom are Chinese-Indonesians) whether to raise our
salaries or not," crew member Suwarno, 23, said.

The Cilacap unrest broke out in the port and nearby areas when
an estimated 12,000 fishermen ran amok in protest at low wages
and alleged corruption by the port officials.

Boat crews and fishermen working at the port claimed they had
been exploited by most trawler owners.

Dozens of properties at the port, including warehouses and
trawlers, were destroyed in the unrest which lasted until late on
Sunday.

Andi Lolo said on Monday the police had arrested 27 suspected
rioters, including 19 looters, seven of whom had vandalized
properties and a man found with a machete.

Town residents began to feel the brunt of the unrest on Monday
after prices of basic essentials began to soar.

Anton Santoso, a Cilacap regency administration official,
confirmed the situation.

He said the administration and the local logistics agency had
supplied an additional three metric tons of rice to the Gede and
Sangkal Putung traditional markets to meet residents' soaring
demand for rice. (45/aan)