Death toll from Padang riot rises

Death toll from Padang riot rises

The Jakarta Post, Muhammad Nafik, Jakarta

The death toll from a riot in the West Sumatra town of Tanah
Datar rose to two on Wednesday as tension remained high there,
with more police personnel deployed to the scene.

Spokesman for the West Sumatra Police Adj. Sr. Comr. L.
Simalango said 20 platoons of police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) were
dispatched to help restore security after the unrest.

"The security situation there is under control and an
independent team formed by the provincial police is conducting an
investigation into the incident," he was quoted by Antara as
saying on Wednesday evening.

West Sumatra Police chief Brig. Gen. Adang Firman had arrived
at the scene shortly after the riot to calm local residents.

The riot broke out on Tuesday when police in Tanah Datar
opened fire on an angry mob, killing a 37-year old man,
identified as Sofyan and injuring 15 others.

Another victim, Jufrizal, 30, died on Wednesday evening after
receiving treatment at Batu Sangkar General hospital, said Second
Lt. Ida Sri Astuti, a senior police officer in the West Sumatra
capital of Padang.

The injured people included chief of the Tanjung Emas district
military command Maj. Sgt. Yonefis and his colleague Chief Sgt.
Syafril, Ida told Antara.

It remains unclear, however, why the servicemen were found
among the angry mob.

At least five motorcycles were set on fire during the riot,
which was sparked by a minor traffic accident earlier on Monday,
involving a local police officer, Chief Brig. Hanafiah, and a 60-
year-old horse cart driver, Samin.

Having heard that Hanafiah beat the driver after the crash,
people from the Tanjung Emas and Saroaso areas near the town
stormed the Batu Sangkar Police station to talk with officers
there.

More people gathered at the station and they suddenly ran
amok. Police personnel opened fire to disperse the mob.

The angry protesters reportedly hurled Molotov cocktails at
the police station.

Simalango said local residents and government leaders agreed
to settle the case through the courts.

Nobody has been named a suspect in connection with the
incident as the investigation is still ongoing, he added.

Three of the victims, Susanto, 35, Bambang, 22, and Jon
Hendra, 23, were still in a serious condition as a result of
gunshot wounds in a local hospital on Wednesday.

The Tanah Datar administration said it would cover the cost of
the victims' medical treatment.