Mob burns, loots port kiosks

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: A mob of about 500 villagers, angry at perceived sinful behavior, looted and burned at least 140 kiosks in Bakauheni port, South Lampung, on Saturday morning, demolishing all of them and injuring at least three traders.

The victims were seriously injured after they jumped into the sea to flee from the angry thugs who used bamboo canes to beat the traders.

The heretofore unknown gangsters calling themselves the United Dantar Ethnic Group Youth Front from eight villages finally left the site at 2 p.m. in apparently chartered buses. Rusli, one of the attackers, said his gang did not want their land to be "contaminated" by slums and prostitution, which they alleged was taking place in the kiosk complex.

The financial losses of each trader was estimated at between Rp 300,000 and Rp 6 million. Some traders suspected that the port management was behind the incident because the attackers were given snacks and refreshments by local port authorities. But the company denied the allegations, and claimed that the angry attackers were merely hungry and thirsty.

There were no reports of attempts by police to stop the violence, and it was not clear if an investigation was going to take place. --Antara