Kebon Manggis residents resume attack on hotel

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of angry residents of Kebon Manggis subdistrict in Matraman district, East Jakarta, threw Molotov cocktails, rocks and bottles at Hotel Mega Matra on Jl. Matraman Raya on Thursday evening.

There were no reports of fatalities during the day.

The residents launched the attack, according to police sources, because they were disappointed with the failure of the police in handling the recent murder case of Jerry Malaiholo a resident of Berlan, Kebon Manggis.

Jerry was allegedly fatally assaulted by security personnel of the hotel late last month after the victim was suspected of extorting money from hotel guests.

Berlan residents were seen openly throwing Molotov cocktails in the vicinity of the hotel, while a few police officers watched the scene from a distance.

Meanwhile, two trucks carrying mobile brigade (Brimob) police officers heading towards the Berlan area were blocked by hundreds of explosive-throwing students grouped in City Forum (Forkot), who were protesting on Jl. Diponegoro in Salemba, Central Jakarta.

A Brimob officer, identified only as Wahyudin, was hit by a rock thrown by one of the students, and was immediately rushed to nearby Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Part of a police truck was reportedly burned when a Molotov cocktail struck it, forcing Brimob officers to jump out.

After firing tear gas, Brimob police tried to secure the Diponegoro area.

Meanwhile, residents of the nearby Pal Meriam subdistrict joined residents of Kebon Manggis in throwing Molotov cocktails.

Residents of Kebon Manggis and Pal Meriam have a long-standing history of intercommunity conflict. Attempts have been taken by Matraman district officials to make them bury the hatchet. They have also erected a high fence along a road separating the neighborhoods in a bid to quell the feuding. (ylt)