Mon, 31 Aug 1998

Cilacap people remain on edge

CILACAP, Central Java (JP): Residents braced for another series of unrest last night in the usually quiet coastal town of Cilacap, despite the presence of military troops.

At 9 p.m. last night mobs were seen stoning several shops, but security forces quickly chased them away. Residents were preparing for the worst after nervous calm had been restored during the day.

Saturday night's rampage spilled over into dawn yesterday as mobs ran amok, attacking houses and general goods stores selling basic commodities.

Cilacap Police reported that it had received reports of 27 locations being attacked since Saturday night.

Witnesses saw at least 10 houses being raided and ransacked along with three stores, including a bicycle shop.

But after dawn there were no reports of further flare-ups.

Cilacap Police precinct chief Lt. Col. Andi Lolo told The Jakarta Post last night that reinforcements were being sent from Yogyakarta to beef up the some 750 security forces already here.

"The rampage last night (Saturday night and early Sunday morning) was intolerable. They looted and burned houses and shops," Andi said.

So far there have been no reports of casualties.

According to Andi, 62 people have been detained, of which 27 have officially been classified as suspects.

Local military resort commander, Col. M. Noer Muis, admitted that during the day the situation was relatively stable. However, at night people quickly began to cluster in mobs and went on a rampage.

"Generally speaking, the unrest caused by the fishermen (at the port area) is under control, but it has now spread to shops, particularly those selling fishing equipment, even to stores selling basic commodities," Noer said.

The unrest began Friday when thousands of fishermen ran amok at the Nusantara Fishery port in reaction to unfair fishing practices in the area.

Ten trawlers, four cars and 120 fishing nets were burned and at least four other vehicles pushed into the sea.

The mayhem started when angry fishermen entered the fishing port premises and set fire to moored boats owned by fishermen from Bagansiapi-api, Riau.

Local fishermen claimed of a large social disparity between them and fishermen from Bagansiapi-api.

Workers employed on the trawlers have also frequently complained of being paid too little, an average of Rp 2,000 per day.

Andi yesterday claimed the rioting fishermen had now been "infiltrated" by certain groups and that the 27 suspects were not fishermen.

Security officials yesterday also held meetings with local fishermen groups to urge calm. "They agreed but pointed out that after Friday's calamity, they had nothing to do with the attacks taking place," Andi said.

Meanwhile in Semarang, Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, chief of the Diponegoro Military Command supervising Central Java and Yogyakarta, claimed the situation was under control.

He called on Cilacap residents to resume their daily activities and not be influenced by misleading rumors sowed by certain parties to create chaos in the town. (45/har/rms)