Matraman mob clash with police officers

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of residents in the Matraman district of East Jakarta clashed with police officers on Tuesday, following the death of a local who had been assaulted by several security guards of Hotel Mega Matra on Jl. Matraman Raya early on Monday.

Police repeatedly shot rubber bullets and tear gas to dismiss angry residents who demanded the police hand over the hotel security guards who had attacked Jerry Mayluhu. The angry residents also set fire to some tires on the road to protest at the police, whom they regard as siding with the hotel security guards. The guards were mostly recruited from the Military Police Command.

"We have just returned from the cemetery in Menteng after attending the funeral of our friend Jerry. But as we were passing by the hotel, the police suddenly shot tear gas and rubber bullets at us," one of the angry residents, Agus Supriyadi, told The Jakarta Post.

Jerry, 30, a resident of Jl. Ksatriaan X in the Berlan military housing complex, was assaulted by around seven Mega Matra Hotel security guards for extorting money from hotel guests. He was later rushed to the emergency unit at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, but died before receiving medical treatment.

"This is the second incident of its kind. Three months ago another friend Supriyadi was also fatally assaulted by the hotel's security guards," another resident, Bambang told the Post.

His colleague, Budi, said that they would not hesitate to set fire to the hotel building if the police failed to settle the case fairly.

"We just want the police to be fair in handling our friend's murder. We want them to arrest the hotel security guards who assaulted our friend, otherwise we will burn the hotel down," another resident, Budi, said.

He said that the hotel, where a Srimulat comedy group member Polo was arrested for using drugs last year, was often used as a place for drugs and prostitution. When contacted by the Post the hotel denied these accusations.

Matraman subprecinct police chief Comr. Unggul BT said that he had yet to receive any official report from Jerry's family, who have rejected police recommendations for an autopsy by forensic experts.

"However we will investigate those who assaulted the victim," he said.

Traffic heading from Jatinegara heading to Matraman was temporarily diverted to Slamet Riyadi road while some 200 police officers from the city police and the East Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade Unit were standing guard at the hotel.(01)