Firecrackers injure holiday revelers
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The police arrested 137 people on the eve of Idul Fitri celebrations (Lebaran) last Saturday night, mostly for setting off firecrackers, a senior police officer said on Monday.
"Those people were detained for allegedly disrupting public order in the night before the takbiran (post-fasting parade on the last day of Ramadhan)," City Police Detective Chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters on Sunday morning.
Bambang said of the 137 people, one was detained for marijuana possession, another 10 for carrying weapons, while the remainder comprised those setting off firecrackers.
Those arrested were taken to the City Police Headquarters for a marathon examination on Saturday, Bambang said.
"Some will be released soon if the evidence isn't sufficient for the police to detain them much longer," he said.
Relatives of the detainees were seen waiting in corridors near the examination room, hoping for the release of family members.
Comr. Chairul, the head of the United States Embassy's security police, said it had confiscated four bags of firecrackers near Monas, but no one had been detained.
Despite being banned, firecrackers injured a dozen people during Idul Fitri celebrations in the last three days.
Four among them are Azwar, Suwardi, Sri Haryanto and Doni, who were all injured by firecrackers' explosion during a takbiran (Post-fasting parade at the last night of Ramadhan) last Saturday.
Azwar, 10, a resident of Cidodol, South Jakarta, suffered an eye injury when a firecracker exploded in his face. He was treated at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.
Suwardi, 24, a resident of Kayu Putih, East Jakarta, was also injured in the right eye and was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo for treatment on Saturday night.
Sri Haryanto, 24, a resident of South Meruya, West Jakarta, needed stitches in his left hand after being injured by a firecracker.
Another victim, Doni, 12, a resident of Duri Pulo, West Jakarta, lost the use of both legs in a firecracker explosion.
The Takbiran was also marred by unruly behavior and extortion by roving gangs.
They threw firecrackers at passing cars, and demanded that passing motorists and pedestrians give them money or cigarettes. Those who refused had their cars trampled on, or were assaulted.
Antara reported that some people threw live firecrackers along Jl. Jend., M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Gajah Mada at passing cars, while security officers stood by and watched.
In other places, such as in Tanah Abang and Roxi, the rowdy people also gathered together in the middle of roads, causing heavy traffic jams.
Several people interviewed by the news agency sharply condemned the incidents -- while singling the police for failing to take any action.
The security officers were seen guarding only strategic places such as the Indosat building, the U.S. Embassy and the Vice Presidential Palace.
"I regretted the incidents -- Takbiran should bring peace, not restlessness, to the public; I'm afraid this could tarnish the image of Islam," Muhammad Ridwan, a resident, told Antara.