Garbage dispute leads to brawl

SURABAYA: Two people were injured in a street brawl between two groups, including public order officials, over garbage in the Keputih area on Wednesday.

The brawl broke out after sanitation workers dumped four truckloads of garbage at the Keputih garbage dump, which had been "arbitrarily" closed by local residents for ten days due to the foul odors emanating from the site.

The residents rushed out of their homes and proceeded to the dump but were confronted by another group who were guarding the garbage trucks, after which a brawl ensued.

Around 20 public order officials attempted to separate the two sides and the enraged residents then turned their anger on them.

Garbage handling has become a crucial problem for the Surabaya administration since the Keputih dump was forced to close by the residents.

The residents have demanded Rp 30.9 billion in health compensation for the 20 years they have lived there since the dump first opened. (nur)