Fresh riots explode in Karawang

By Ivy Susanti

KARAWANG, West Java (JP): Thousands ran amok in Karawang on Friday, attacking police stations, burning cars and looting shops in the city's business district in the spillover from rumors a police officer assaulted a local on Thursday night.

The riot paralyzed business activities along Jl. Tuparev and Jl. Suroto Kunto and turned nearby residential areas on Jl. Syech Quro, Jl. Veteran, Jl. Kertabumi, Jl. Ir. H. Djuanda and Jl. Dewi Sartika into war zones. Karawang is 72 kilometers east of Jakarta.

A student, identified as Jumadi from Tri Jaya Sakti technical high school, was shot dead and eight others were injured after security officers opened fire to prevent the mob from attacking shops on Friday morning.

Six police posts, Karawang police station and Kota police station were vandalized by the mob, who also pelted stones at the police officers deployed to disperse them.

Regent Dadang S. Muchtar inspected the devastated area at about 4:35 p.m. with his subordinates and security officers, calling on the crowd to end the violence or face the consequences.

"Leave this place, or you will be the target of bullets," he said by megaphone.

He muttered to reporters: "My area used to be the safest."

Consisting mostly of high school students and youths from surrounding areas, the mob burned vehicles in a car showroom and looted clothes and shoes from several stores, including the Borobudur and Sahabat department stores and the Bata shoe store on Jl. Tuparev.

Some of the youths immediately donned the T-shirts, shorts and shoes, but others stuffed their plunder under their clothes.

A Chinese-Indonesian store owner was thankful the mob moved on after breaking down the door of his business.

"Praise the Lord, they took nothing here," said O. Cay, whose store, Benteng, sells goods ranging from household wares to kites. "Maybe they were not interested in our goods.

"They even locked up the shop again as soon as they got out. There were some people that protected my shop."

During the rampage, people stoned and damaged banks, including branches of private BDNI and BCA, a hotel and at least two churches.

They also vandalized planters, lampposts and telephone booths. Furniture and goods were dragged out of stores and burned in the street.

Local residents claimed it was sparked by an incident in which a police officer allegedly ticketed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver in nearby Johar market on Thursday night.

"The policeman reportedly asked for Rp 10,000 (US$1.3) to settle the matter, but the request was rejected because the driver could not afford it. The policeman then hit the driver," said Andi, one of the residents.

Other drivers were incensed by the officer's conduct, he said. They began attacking the police posts.

They looted the Borobudur department store of clothes before soldiers from the Army's Strategic Reserves Command arrived and fired warning shots to disperse them.

"The crowd looked like devils in the dark of the night," said Arif Purwanto, an employee at the nearby Geulis photo shop who witnessed the incident from the second floor of his two-story building.

Karawang Police chief Lt. Col. Ahmad Hidayat, vehemently denying the allegation of police brutality, said the unrest was orchestrated.

"I have questioned one of my subordinates, First Sgt. Nanang Suryana, who was accused of being the ticketing officer. He said he did not do it, and that he did not abuse the driver."

He said none of the drivers who came to his office to report the incident could identify the victim. "They said they heard about the abuse from others."

Ahmad said he received information three days before the incident that certain parties would provoke the drivers to retaliate if they were ticketed.

"We have urged the drivers not to be influenced by such provocation."

He said on Thursday night his office received an anonymous call that there was a riot at a golf course in the city's luxurious Sedana housing complex.

"We deployed our officers there, and at the same time, the unrest broke out here," he said.

The unrest simmered down at about 2 a.m. on Friday, but flared up again at 6 a.m.

Ahmad said dozens of rioters were arrested, including a plainclothes soldier who was part of the mob attacking Karawang police station.

"The soldier was identified as Chief Sgt. P.H. He did not possess an Armed Forces identity card, but someone recognized him as an officer from Subang (West Java)," he said.

The crowd dispersed shortly before the breaking of the fast at about 6 p.m. Soldiers continued to patrol the city in military trucks.