Medan still tense as rioting spreads to nearby towns

Medan still tense as rioting spreads to nearby towns

MEDAN (JP): Rioting spread to nearby towns yesterday as parts
of the North Sumatran capital remained tense.

East Medan's Tebung commercial area was littered with glass
and debris yesterday evening after scores of shops had earlier
been looted and set on fire by hundreds of rioters.

In another part of the city, looters broke into a car and
motorcycle dealer showroom and dragged out 20 motorcycles and one
car and burned them on the street.

By early evening an uneasy calm had descended in much of Medan
but the central and eastern sections of the city were still
tightly patrolled.

Bukit Barisan Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Agus
Ramadhan said he had not received any reports of fatalities
during the riots. He also said the authorities had arrested 148
people for looting and rioting.

Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security Feisal
Tanjung in Jakarta condemned yesterday what he called the
"anarchy" in Medan and warned that the government would crack
down on rioters.

"The government will take measures against people involved in
this mass destruction and looting," Feisal said before attending
a cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office.

He added that the demonstrations had deviated from their
original intent and had been exploited for criminal purposes,
such as looting.

The riots broke after three days of student protests in Medan
ended in sharp clashes with security personnel, leaving dozens
injured.

Then on Monday evening, a mob gathered on Jl. Pancing near the
Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) started smashing shop windows
and burning cars. It is not known whether the mob consisted of
students.

The rampage continued Tuesday and by yesterday afternoon had
spread to nearby towns despite the fact that parts of Medan had
quieted down.

Many people had apparently joined the mob to vent their
frustration over Monday's announcement of fuel and electricity
price increases.

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto arrived in Medan late last night and immediately held a
briefing with local police and military commanders.

Spreading violence

In the town of Lubuk Pakam, 37 kilometers south of Medan,
angry mobs attacked and looted hundreds of shops. It is not clear
what sparked the violence.

In Tanjung Morawa, Deli Serdang regency, 11 km south of Medan,
hundreds of people looted the town's Mora supermarket. At least
10 nearby shops were also attacked by angry mobs.

Riots were also seen in other towns in the regency such as
Petumbukan, Galang and Pantai Labu where at least one car was
reported damaged.

Deli Serdang Military Commander Lt. Col. B. Sinuhaji told The
Jakarta Post that the riots in the regency had actually began
Tuesday and continued until yesterday afternoon.

"These are lootings. They did not have anything to do with
politics or demonstrations," he said.

A number of people have been questioned by the authorities
following the incident, he said.

Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ismed Yuzairi told
reporters that one helicopter, six armored vehicles and military
personnel were put on alert at Medan's Banteng Square to
anticipate further incidents.

Police had also closed off a toll road leading into Medan,
fearing that people from neighboring towns might join in the
riots.

Activity was slow at Medan's port of Belawan as many trucks
carrying goods stayed off city streets because of the violence.
Medan, Indonesia's third largest city, is the trading hub in a
major palm oil, rubber and coffee producing region.

Medan, a city of some two million people, is western
Indonesia's main commercial and commodity center.

Aggravating the situation further, a soccer match at Teladan
Stadium between local team PSMS Medan and PSIS Semarang ended
with spectators invading the field.

According to Antara, the match was only guarded by 20 police
officers because other officers were busy in other parts of the
city. (21/byg)