Hundreds involved in East Jakarta street brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of youths were involved in a street brawl along Jl. Matraman in East Jakarta which left dozens of people injured on Thursday.

No fatalities were reported, but at least 14 people were taken to Mitra Keluarga Hospital and Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for medical treatment.

Stones were thrown and at least two police motorcycles were burned by the angry mob during the commotion.

An officer from the East Jakarta Police precinct said that the ugly scenes erupted out of a seemingly insignificant clash between rival groups of high school students at noon.

The clash caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy road, he said, asking for anonymity.

When police arrived to disperse the warring high school students, most ran off into the neighborhoods of Kebon Manggis and Tegalan, said the officer, pointing out that the two areas have long been embroiled in a bitter feud with each other.

Youths from Kebon Manggis then tried to drive the high school students out of the area by throwing stones at them, he said.

Tegalan residents, some of whom had given the students refuge in their homes, became angry and for reasons unknown, then launched an attack on the Kebon Manggis youths.

"The police did not think that the low-key clash would develop into a running street battle," he said.

When the brawl was at its peak intensity, local police reportedly ceased their efforts to calm the crowds and stood back to watch the fracas, angering local residents.

Two hours after the trouble first began, dozens of riot police and soldiers arrived on the scene and began attempts to disperse the warring residents.

Warning shots were fired, but unfortunately one bullet reportedly struck a local resident in the stomach.

"Security personnel fired dozens of warning shots," the officer said.

The injury to their neighbor drew residents who had hitherto been spectators into the fray. They, along with the fighters, rounded on policemen and soldiers, first pelting them with stones and then, on the instigation of a single individual, setting fire to two police motorcycles.

The situation returned to normal at around 5 p.m. after the residents became weary and decided to go home, he said, adding that no arrests were made.

The chief of the East Jakarta Police precinct, Lt. Col. Syahrir Kuba, could not be reached for comment.

Almost all of those hurt in the brawl were released from hospital later on Thursday.

Paskalis, a doctor at Mitra Keluarga Hospital, said the injuries he treated were mostly the result of strikes by stones and sharp weapons.

"One person had to undergo surgery," he said, declining to give further details. (emf)