Military, police offices attacked in NTT

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post/Kupang

Dozens of residents vandalized the offices of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police in two separate regencies in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). No fatalities were reported but the buildings were severely damaged.

The attack on Miofao Military Command in North Central Timor occurred on Tuesday afternoon, after a fight broke out between local military officers and spectators at a soccer game held to commemorate Independence Day.

The game, held in a field in West Miofao district, had proceeded smoothly at first. However, the officer who was hired to safeguard the event, had resorted to violence when spectators refused to step back behind the sidelines. Some spectators were injured after being kicked or hit with his baton.

The crowd retaliated and began to solicit support from others to fight the officer, who ran into the nearby military command.

The spectators chased him to the building, which they set about to destroy, shattering the windows and breaking down the doors.

Military and local leaders managed to restore order and offered to facilitate negotiations between the military and residents.

Chief of the North Central Timor Military Command overseeing West Miofao district Lt. Col. Bambang S said on Thursday that the dispute had been settled.

Two days earlier, dozens of people vandalized the Jerebu'u Police station in Ngada here, following the alleged assault of a local resident by a police officer.

The assault reportedly occurred during a soccer game held earlier on Saturday, also to commemorate Independence Day.

Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, chief of the East Nusa Tenggara police Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said that the situation in Jerebu'u had returned to normal.