Fresh riots hit W. Java subdistrict

Fresh riots hit W. Java subdistrict

BANDUNG (JP): A riot triggered by price hikes hit the West
Java subdistrict of Kadipaten in Majalengka regency, 10
kilometers east of here, as other towns remained tense yesterday.

Dozens of people began to take to Jl. Siliwangi and Jl. Baros
at midday, attacking shops and setting them ablaze. At least 15
shops were damaged, six of them -- plus several motorcycles --
were set on fire.

Security authorities quickly restored order and arrested two
men suspected of sparking the unrest. There was no report of
injuries during the 40-minute police clampdown.

In Cirebon, minor rioting erupted in Karangsembung village
just hours before Governor R. Nuriana toured the town to inspect
the village after rioting Friday. The latest outbreak left two
houses burned.

Nuriana visited people in Cirebon's riot-hit areas of Lemah
Abang, Pasar Gebang, Losari and Cileduk who were clearing
remnants of buildings attacked by angry rioters in the past few
days.

The coastal town had yet to return to normal yesterday, with
many shops staying closed and major bus terminals witnessing a
sharp decline of passengers leaving the town. Instead, people
seemingly preferred to travel by train as evidenced by increased
numbers of travelers at the railway station.

Violence also spilled over into Purwokerto in Central Java
yesterday when a number of people stoned buses heading for the
coastal areas of Banyumas, Pemalang, Brebes and Cilacap, all in
Central Java.

Antara reported that the attack caused bus and other public
transportation drivers in Purwokerto to stop their activities,
fearing that riots would resume. Hundreds of residents were left
stranded for hours due to the absence of transportation.

Tension also reigned in the Central Java town of Purbalingga
as hundreds of people pelted shops selling basic commodities for
refusing to open. But the military and police managed to
immediately quell any potential rioting. They made no arrests,
and only ordered the angry people to return home.

Bandung was calmer yesterday, despite rumors that strikes and
riots were about to erupt. The rumors affected public
transportation as groups of people had to wait for hours for
public minibuses.

More troops were seen patrolling the town despite heavy rain
throughout the day.

Governor Nuriana called on entrepreneurs and public
transportation drivers to resume their business activities as
usual to prevent public anxiety from worsening.

"Most riots were triggered by a lack of public transportation.
With such a condition, people tend to gather. And once this
happens, they can be easily driven to rioting," Nuriana said.

Earlier, Central Java Governor Soewardi accused a certain
group based in Jakarta for organizing the riots that had rocked
the province and other towns across Java.

"We found that some people we arrested for allegedly inciting
riots came from Jakarta. They arrived here along with the exodus
of Idul Fitri revelers," Suwardi said over the weekend.
(43/har/amd)