Five wanted in factory fire

CIREBON, West Java: Police in Cirebon are still hunting five people suspected of inciting locals to torch the biggest fish- canning factory in Babakan, Cirebon, PT Kelola Mina Laut, on Monday.

Insp. Indra Darmawan, chief of the detective unit of the Cirebon Police Precinct, said the police would certainly arrest the suspects who were believed to be hiding somewhere in the regency.

"The fire caused billions of rupiah in material losses and the factory employed thousands of fishermen and other employees, as well as having contributed to the local administration's annual revenue," he said.

He declined to name the suspects. The police have questioned some 30 eyewitnesses.

The arson was believed to have been triggered by the falling price of fish supplied by a cooperative to the factory. The factory had recently stopped exporting fish to Japan, causing a drop in the price of fish. Fish is usually purchased from fishermen by the cooperative at Rp 8,000 per kilogram. --JP