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)