Forty-eight name suspects after Kembangan clash

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 48 of over 100 people who clashed with police at the Taman Permata Buana housing complex in Kembangan, West Jakarta over the weekend were declared suspects on Monday.

However, only 25 of the 48 suspects were detained.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said police would be firm in dealing with the suspects, as many of them were not residents of the area but gang members hired by a party with an interest in the conflict.

"Most of them are gang members, not local residents. We will not negotiate with them. We regret that local residents hired such people to resolve their problem," he said.

Tjiptono said the 25 people had been charged under Articles 160, 167, 170 and 406 of the Criminal Code on instigation, trespassing, mass assault, and destruction respectively while the others had been charged with trespassing only.

He said the 25 people had been detained as they faced a maximum punishment of nine years' imprisonment, while the others faced a maximum of nine months in jail.

A mob of over 100 men attacked the marketing office of the housing complex on Saturday morning, burning virtually all documents inside and breaking windows.

The attackers, claiming to represent local residents Aminah binti Ilyas and Aisyah, demanded that developer PT Mustika return a 5,500 square meter plot of land, which they said belonged to Aminah.

The mob vowed to occupy the office until Monday but by 1:15 p.m., police had forcefully dispersed the group, triggering a clash, in which many people were injured.

The clash was but one in a series of attacks over the last few years, mostly sparked by hired men.

Early this month many residents were forced to flee their houses after a clash broke out over land ownership.

A resident of Serang, Banten province, identified as Jahuri, 22, was killed during the clash between a group of people identified by the police as the Banten Warrior's Association (BPPKB) -- the group hired by PT Mustika Karya Sejati, the developer of the complex -- and groups of Betawi people (native Jakartans) led by the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and a group from Maluku. Both the FBR and the Maluku group claimed to represent Aminah and Aisyah.

PT Mustika insists it has bought the land, while Aminah and Aisyah claim to have received no payment from the developer.

The police said they had arrested a member of the group from Maluku, identified as John Atambua, who is suspected to have killed Jahuri.

"We hope that residents who have problems don't turn to hired thugs as this only causes new problems. I am sure that Aminah and Aisyah are just the victims of people who want to profit from the conflict," Tjiptono said.

Clashes between groups, often triggered by power struggles, have been common since the fall of Soeharto in May 1998.

There are hundreds of paramilitary command posts belonging to several paramilitary groups, including the FBR, the BPPKB and the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) across the city.

Although the public has expressed concern over the excessive power of paramilitary groups, authorities have not stopped conflicts among them.