Harley riders told to apologize for beating man
Harley riders told to apologize for beating man
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
Responding to the beating of an innocent man by members of the
Jakarta Harley Owners Group (HOG) on Saturday, chairman of the
Harley Davidson Club Indonesia (HDCI) Lt. Gen. (ret) Suyono urged
the organization on Sunday to publicly apologize.
Suyono argued that a public apology was necessary to prevent
local people, irked by the group's arrogance, from retaliating.
In a statement read out by a HDCI Bogor branch official,
Michael A. Wilson, Suyono said he deeply regretted the incident
and demanded that HOG members involved in the beating apologize
to the victim and his family.
"What they did was tarnishing the image of big bike lovers,"
he said.
Suyono said the HDCI had established conduct and speed rules
which its members must obey.
HOG members beat up Gunawan, 50, a resident of the Bogor
Agricultural Institute (IPB) housing complex in Darmaga, while
they were riding along Jl. Raya Semplak in a motorcade heading to
Labuan, Banten province, on Saturday at 9:55 a.m.
The parade was running at 80 kilometers per hour and was
escorted by military police to clear the way.
The Traffic Law stipulates that an escort can only be used for
emergencies, such as for an ambulance or for the President, Vice
President and state guests.
Gunawan was told to pull over his Toyota Kijang van by five
Harley riders. But just as he was about to do so, the riders
bumped into his car. They took him out of the car and beat him in
front of his children and sister-in-law, who were inside the car.
Gunawan sustained bruises all over his face and was
immediately taken home for treatment.
Residents living close to the scene of the incident in Semplak
were infuriated and prepared to attack any rider of a big bike.
Bogor Police command and operational chief, Comr. Made
Rumiarsa, himself a big biker, said that the actions of the
Harley Davidson drivers was "embarrasing".
"Every citizen has the same right, including in their right to
use the road," he said. Police action against the bikers was yet
to be clear.