Hoodlums clash twice with Tanah Abang residents

JAKARTA (JP): Clashes between residents and hoodlums in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, erupted again yesterday in the morning and evening, leaving two people badly injured.

The first clash took place about 3 a.m. when members of a hoodlum gang were incensed after a kiosk owner turned down their request for liquor, a resident of Tanah Abang said.

"Actually we are very tired of their activities. It's really disruptive for our neighborhood," Yuli, a representative of Tanah Abang's Family Group, said.

Yuli said she heard about the clash when she was preparing for the dawn prayer.

"The owner of the kiosk called for help as soon as the hoodlums attacked his kiosk. Fortunately the police officers came quickly and helped settle the clash."

One of the hoodlums, who was drunk, was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta after he was badly beaten, reportedly by his own friend.

The second clash erupted about 5.30 p.m. when a group of Irianese boys attacked youngsters from Kebon Melati who were playing soccer in an open field near Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur.

The clash began when the Irianese boys reportedly pushed one of the youngsters and took the ball away.

"The youngsters then called out to their friends to back them up and the clash began," Romiah, one of the residents, said.

The clash ended about 7 p.m. when Tanah Abang Police were deployed to the area.

One of the Irianese boys was reportedly injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday that the hoodlum problem in Tanah Abang had become a classic problem.

"Tensions (between the residents and the hoodlums) are running high in this area. It has been going on for years now. I admit that the situation is complex and it is not easy to solve this kind of problem," he said.

Tanah Abang is the hottest address in the city with clashes, disputes and riots dominating news about the area.

Police records indicate there have been 11 crackdowns in the Tanah Abang area this year.

In a large-scale crackdown last October, 67 alleged hoodlums from Tanah Abang were rounded up and forced to participate in a rehabilitation program in Ragunan Sports Dormitory in South Jakarta.

Last year, there were 74 crackdown operations to eradicate hoodlums, gamblers, prostitutes and illegal buildings in Tanah Abang.

At least four people were killed and 23 others were injured in the same period. (edt)