Hundreds of houses burned near Kalijodo brothel

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Another brawl occurred in Kalijodo brothel and gambling complex in North Jakarta early on Friday, just a week after the last riot that claimed one life. The brawl also resulted in the burning down of hundreds of houses on nearby Jl. Jembatan Dua Barat.

Angry masses also pelted stones at firefighters who arrived at the site at 3:30 a.m. and prevented them from extinguishing the fire.

The houses owners sought refuge at Tambora subdistrict office in West Jakarta, a hundred meters from the location.

Chief of Penjaringan Police subprecinct, Comr. Krisna Murti, revealed the fire was caused by a brawl between two conflicting ethnic groups.

The Haji Usman group, whose members come from Mandar in South Sulawesi, and the Azis group, who heads the group of Makassar people also from South Sulawesi, were involved in the brawl. Both groups are among other groups of thugs that control the complex.

The police believed the brawl was triggered by Ahmad Rese who incited hatred among both groups.

Ahmad is reportedly a subordinate of a bar owner in the complex. The bar operation itself is reportedly backed by Chief Brig. Bakri Nor, a police officer, said Krisna.

"We are tracking down Ahmad as a suspect in inciting the brawl," he said.

Following the brawl, both conflicting parties were summoned to have talks with the authorities.

Krisna said the parties in conflict promised to tell their subordinates to cease fighting and leave law enforcement to the police.

Thousands of sex workers, food stall vendors, brothel owners and thugs, operating as security guards and parking attendants, work at the Kalijodo complex. However, they will need to look elsewhere for employment as Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso plans to close the complex.