Moslem youths protest hoarding

TANGERANG (JP): At least 40 Moslem youths flocked to Tangerang mayoralty's office yesterday to protest the municipality's sluggish response to the rising prices of basic staple foods, partly due to hoarding.

The group's arrival at the office caused mayoralty workers to panic and kept the police busy.

The group, which called itself Forum Silaturrahmi Pesantren dan Masjid Tangerang (Tangerang Islamic Education and Mosque Forum), repeatedly shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great) and unfurled posters.

Tangerang military district commander Lt. Col. Harman Rozanie and Tangerang Police precinct deputy chief Maj. M. Iriawan later invited the protesters to meet with Tangerang Mayor Djakaria Machmud and his assistants.

Djakaria reminded the group to behave responsibly during the meeting as their actions could cause further disruptions ahead of next month's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

The forum's secretary, T.B. Mahdi Adhi Adhiansyah, expressed dissatisfaction after the meeting, saying: "The mayor didn't respond to our complaint, instead he used it for political gain."

The protesters, who wore white clothing with a yellow ribbon tied around their right arms, presented six demands.

Among the six, were the sale of stock, believed to have been hoarded, at reasonable prices, and the revocation of licenses of companies accused of hoarding.

They also demanded the municipality take stern action against hoarders. (41/emf)