Mob vandalize Tangerang Council
Mob vandalize Tangerang Council
TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of people ran amok and vandalized the
Tangerang Council building on Monday morning during a rally
demanding the resignation of four councillors from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjaungan).
The mob, who claimed to be local residents, also beat one of
the four councillors and another man who initially joined the
rally but later told journalists at the scene that he took part
in the rally under the order of the council speaker.
With posters and banners, the protesters accused the four
councillors of having betrayed Tangerang Council Speaker, Gian
Sugiharsono, who is from the same party.
Security personnel from the Tangerang Police station, which is
about 500 meters from the council building, arrived at the scene
one hour after the vandalism began.
Up to Monday evening, none of the police officers were willing
to explain their late arrival to secure the building and the
safety of the councillors.
The two wounded victims in the incident were identified as
councillor Teddy Subrata and Ahmad Sanusi, a resident of the
Pasar Kemis area.
Teddy, chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction at the council, who
suffered serious wounds to his head, doubted the protesters were
local PDI Perjuangan supporters.
"None of the attackers identified me. They just beat me up
blindly. I really regret this incident and I will simply let the
local police probe the case," Teddy said after receiving four
stitches.
Sanusi was attacked by other protesters after he told
reporters that he and the protesters staged the rally at the
council building based on the order of Gian, who promised to pay
them after the mission was completed.
"I was at home when the council speaker called me by phone to
join a rally at the council building and promised to give us
money later," Sanusi said.
He sustained serious injuries to the head and was immediately
rushed to the nearby Tangerang Hospital for treatment.
Police have so far made no arrests. But they questioned at
least several councillors, including Teddy and those from other
factions, as witnesses.
Speaker Gian could not be reached for further comment.
The protesters started gathering around the council building
complex on the busy street of Jl. Nyimas Melati at 9 a.m.
According to them, Teddy and the three other councillors from
PDI Perjuangan, namely Dedy Safei, Sri Hartati and Hasaduddin
Bijei should resign from their position at the council because
the four members betrayed their own party.
The four PDI Perjuangan members, they said, had voted for a
motion of no confidence to be passed against speaker Gian.
Neither the protesters, nor Teddy, were willing to give any
further explanations about the case.
"These four councillors are no longer fit for their current
posts. They are traitors," cried one of the protesters.
The mob then smashed the building's windows and damaged
several pieces of equipment inside. (41/bsr)