Eight questioned for stoning toll booths

JAKARTA (JP): Police questioned eight men yesterday after angry motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers stoned toll booths and cars on the Jati Bening toll road in Bekasi Thursday night.

At least four toll booths were smashed and the windows of a police car shattered before riot police took control.

Witnesses told police that dozens of ojek drivers became angry around 7 p.m. when toll road security officers prevented public buses from dropping passengers off near the exit gate.

The drivers, who usually wait for passengers near the gate, were unable to pick up passengers from the buses.

The drivers then became involved in a brawl with toll road security officers, who they outnumbered.

When security officers and toll officials ran away, the drivers began stoning the toll booths and passing cars.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said dozens of people, including residents in the area and becak (pedicab) drivers, joined in the stoning.

Hundreds of cars were able to pass the toll gate without paying. Motorists fled the site in panic and a few vehicles sustained minor damage.

Police brought the riot under control by 10 p.m.

The head of Cikampek toll road, I.D. Panjaitan, said his officials managed to salvage money from the toll booths.

He said the state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga would soon repair the damage caused by the riot.

Aritonang said that only two of the people arrested were ojek drivers.

He called on people not to be influenced by others wanting to create a riot. (jun/cst)