Matraman residents called to settle battle themselves

JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi regretted the seemingly endless dispute between two neighboring residents in the Matraman area, East Jakarta, urging the disputed parties to settle the prolonged battle on their own.

The police, Nurfaizi said, would do their best to stop the never-ending battle but could not do it without the help of the warring neighbors.

"Now it's up to the residents whether or not to continue with such destructive actions. The police can't work alone," he told reporters at city police headquarters.

"Noted local figures, such as teachers and religious leaders, should urge the residents not to become involved in such brawls," added Nurfaizi, who in the morning inspected the area with several local officials.

The brawl between neighboring residents of Kebon Manggis and Palmeriam, along Jl. Matraman, which flared up last Sunday and continued on both Tuesday and Friday, was triggered again in the early hours of Sunday.

In the latest clash, the mob burned 12 buildings, including shops and residents' houses. No fatalities were reported. As usual, the clash, which has tarnished the lives of the two neighborhoods for so many years, was prompted by a small incident between local teenagers.

Separately contacted on Sunday, city spokesman Muhayat supported Nurfaizi's remarks, saying that the age-old conflict between the Matraman neighbors could only be resolved by the disputed residents themselves.

"Governor Sutiyoso has ordered East Jakarta Mayor Andi Mappaganti to reconcile both areas and there has been a meeting for that purpose. Yet they started fighting again," he said over the phone.

"Local figures must urge residents to restrain themselves. The governor also said that he suspected there were provocateurs taking advantage of the situation," Muhayat said, but gave no further details.

Mappaganti, who accompanied Nurfaizi on his visit on Sunday, said that his office would soon build a two-meter by 400-meter fence to divide the two warring neighborhoods.

"We'll build the fence soon. We have no other choice," he said.

A Lautan Berlian Mitsubishi showroom and a Sari Kuring restaurant were destroyed by the fire on Sunday. The total amount of losses was still unknown by the buildings' owners.

"Not only did the mob burn the building but they also took the equipment, such as the air-conditioners and computers. Some of them plundered our spare parts," Joni, a staffer at the Mitsubishi showroom told reporters.

Separately, local residents asked the authorities to deploy the Navy's elite Marine Corps to avoid any brawls in the future.

"We can't rely on police officers because residents of Kebon Manggis are widely known to be of Army background," a teenager said on condition of anonymity.

Another resident criticized the police for arriving late at the scene and doing nothing to stop the brawl.

"Police only show up in daylight and they disappear at night," she said.

There were three police trucks and two armored vehicles seen at the location on Sunday afternoon.

Nurfaizi admitted that police were late as they needed some time to reach the location.

The officer also criticized residents, who prevented fire trucks from entering the location to put out the fire.

"When the fire trucks arrived, some residents tried to prevent them from entering the scene. But as they were late, the residents blamed the city's fire office," he added.

Nurfaizi pledged to take strong action against any anarchic activities.

"There is no other choice, I will take stern action against all acts of destruction," he warned. (nvn)