Manggarai residents promise to keep peace

JAKARTA (JP): Two quarreling groups of residents in Manggarai subdistrict, South Jakarta, pledged on Sunday to stop their prolonged feud which claimed three lives last year.

Witnessed by Tebet district head Rama Parjawinata and Tebet Police chief Maj. Asli Manau, the residents issued a joint "peace-deal" statement in a gathering at the Manggarai Selatan soccer field.

"We agree to avoid personal and group interests which have so far ignited the brawls," said the statement, which was read in turn by Choki and Ujang, two youths from the two groups.

Choki said that, in the future, the two groups would first discuss problems amongst themselves before going to the police.

The groups then exchanged white flags, symbolizing the establishment of the peace agreement, and continued by cutting a rice cone in the ceremony, attended by at least 300 residents from both groups.

Lulus Sucipto, one of those present, said the meeting was organized by youths of the two groups who have long been involved in bloody clashes.

"The meeting was not orchestrated by the district officials or by the police. It was on our own initiatives," Lulus said.

He said both groups expected that there would not be any more clashes in the future.

" The participants of the meeting are youths who were involved in the earlier clashes. That's why I'm sure that there will be no brawls here anymore," he said.

The residents in the two neighboring units, RW 02 and RW 10, were involved in a brawl on Sept. 2 which killed one resident, injured four others and destroyed four buildings.

Like previous brawls in the area, the cause of last month's remains unclear.

Governor Sutiyoso has called upon the residents to end the dispute and has donated to them two soccer balls and a guitar, in the hope that they will take part in activities together.

The residents, especially the youths, have repeatedly broken their earlier promises and again become involved in brawls.

Prior to the brawl last month, the residents agreed to put a stop to the dispute by slaughtering a goat, but the brawls reoccurred.

Meanwhile, at least one house and two kiosks were burned down during a brawl between residents of Jl. Pal Meriam and Kampung Berlan, Matraman, East Jakarta on Saturday night.

No fatalities were reported in the brawl which started at 1 a.m.

Residents of Kampung Berlan reportedly attacked Pal Meriam residents without any clear reason. The latter then retaliated by throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails, witnesses said on Sunday.

The brawl is believed to have occurred following a fatal stabbing of a student from Kampung Berlan in another brawl a few days ago.

Like Manggarai residents, residents from Berlan and Pal Meriam have been frequently involved in brawls. (jun)