Firecrackers injure holiday revelers
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.