Kembangan folk flee home after deadly clash

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of residents of the Taman Permata Buana housing complex in Kembangan, West Jakarta, have left their houses since a deadly clash between two local groups on Saturday over land ownership.

The neighborhood remained tense on Tuesday. At least 300 members of the Communication Forum of Betawi Children (Forkabi) gathered outside the office of housing complex developer PT Mustika Karya Sejati, while the police stood guard in the area.

"We are here to prevent any more violence. We do not back any party. We will focus on investigating the death of Jahuri. We have no authority over the land dispute. The groups should resolve their dispute in court," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.

The clash was sparked after two women claimed ownership of the 5,500 square meters of land used by the developer as its marketing office.

The women, identified as Aminah and Aisyah, have received the support of Forkabi and four similar organizations, including the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and the Banten Warrior Association. Developer PT Mustika has received support from a group from Maluku.

Jahuri, 22, a resident of Serang, Banten, was killed during clashes between the groups on Saturday.

Tjiptono said the police had arrested John Atambua as a suspect in the death.

"We continue to investigate the murder. This is a criminal case and it is our job to handle the case."

He said the conflict had been going on for months and the two groups remained reluctant to bring the matter to the courts.

"We cannot help solve the land dispute. It is a civil case. If they cannot make peace themselves, they should go to the courts. We have tried to meditate but they apparently have their own ways," Tjiptono said.

Clashes between groups, often triggered by struggles for power or land, have been common since after the fall of authoritarian president Soeharto.

There are hundreds of paramilitary command posts belonging to some of these larger groups, including the FBR and the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), throughout the city.

Although the public has expressed concern over the actions of paramilitary groups, the authorities seem to be powerless to stop them.

There were a number of clashes several weeks ago between the FBR and the Banten Big Family Development Committee in a struggle for control over 50 square meters of land in Sungai Bambu, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

The Jakarta Police announced after the clash that they would dismantle all paramilitary command posts throughout the city, but so far there have been no indications that any action has been taken.