Manggarai residents agree to hold dialog
Manggarai residents agree to hold dialog
JAKARTA (JP): Following Tuesday's bloody clash that claimed
the life of a resident, the two feuding groups at Bukit Duri in
Manggarai, South Jakarta, have agreed to hold a dialog to solve
the long-running dispute, a city official said on Friday.
Head of the Bukit Duri subdistrict, Mugeni Sanan, said police
and city officials had arranged a meeting between leaders of the
two opposing groups for Saturday.
"I hope the meeting can help solve the feud between the
groups," he told The Jakarta Post in his office.
The Head of Manggarai subdistrict, Bakir Karim, confirmed the
planned meeting. "The meeting will be held in my office," he told
the Post on Friday.
On Wednesday evening, city officials in the two subdistricts
decided to set up vigilante committees comprising local residents
and security officers.
The two groups of residents in Manggarai were involved in a
bloody street brawl on Thursday that left one dead and four
others injured. Four buildings were also damaged.
During the clash, which was the climax of two previous days of
brawls, several police deployed in the area could do nothing to
stop the fighting.
On Friday morning, police officers were assigned to guard the
area. Some stores on the street were open for business as usual,
while others remained closed, waiting for the situation to calm
down. Some residents were seen repairing the buildings that had
been set on fire.
The two groups have fought for years to control the street in
Manggarai, so they could collect illegal levies from the vendors,
Mugeni said, adding that their greed was the cause of the feud.
The two groups had earlier agreed to end their animosity, but
the truce did not last long. Residents of the two subdistricts
continue to prepare homemade weapons and arrows, Mugeni said.
Sutiyoso
When asked by reporters on Friday at City Hall to comment on
how to settle the dispute, Governor Sutiyoso refused to reply,
but ordered Mayor Abdul Mufthi to explain the matter to the
press.
"Pak Mufthi, come over here. Tell the reporters what you will
do to overcome the Manggarai problem," Sutiyoso said.
Under the gaze of his boss, Mufthi explained that he would
summon leaders from both sites to discuss ways to avoid brawls in
the future.
He also said that he would suggest that residents hold joint
activities, such as volleyball competitions and art and cultural
activities, to improve mutual understanding among them.
The mayor said he had no idea why the residents have
repeatedly been involved in brawls, saying they agreed to put a
halt to the dispute by slaughtering a goat a few months ago.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul
Kahfi said that to avoid further violence, the offer of
participation in the transmigration program is still open for the
residents.
Kahfi added that the city administration plans to build a low-
cost apartment in the slum area, which is on land belonging to
state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, to help improve
the environment.
"But the plan is scheduled to be realized in the future for
financial reasons," Kahfi said.
Kahfi and Mufthi asked police to investigate the brawl and
arrest the people responsible for the fatality.
City Councilor Dani Anwar from the Justice Party suggested
that the city administration gather community leaders to discuss
the problem.
"We view that local leaders have never been invited to solve
the problems. They are being neglected," Dani said.
He also proposed that the city administration help the
residents to find jobs, since most of them that were involved in
the brawls are unemployed.
The transmigration program, he said, would not solve the
problem. (04/jun)