One killed, two injured in Manggarai clashes

JAKARTA (JP): At least one man was killed and two others seriously injured in clashes between residents of Manggarai district in South Jakarta, while at least four buildings were set ablaze, witnesses said on Thursday.

Residents in the district have a long history of animosity that often results in street brawls, despite the local government's efforts to mediate between disputing parties.

The two injured men were taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's emergency room.

One of the victims, 23-year-old Arif, was injured after being shot in the head with an arrow.

As of the evening, the arrow remained in the victim's forehead. Doctors refused to remove the arrow because victim's family and neighbors were unable to pay the Rp 275,000 (US$36) for the operation.

The other injured man, Agus, 20, was shot in the left thigh and right knee by a homemade air riffle. He was taken by his family to Budi Asih Hospital in Bekasi after receiving initial treatment at the general hospital.

"I had to join the fight because I saw a Molotov cocktail had burned the madrasah and musholla," he told The Jakarta Post in Cipto Mangunkusumo's emergency room on Thursday, referring to an Islamic religious school and a small mosque.

Arif told the Post he was only trying to put out the fires when he was hit by an arrow. "I have never joined the fighting before, I was just trying to extinguish the fires."

A resident of Manggarai, Yatna, said the clashes between groups of residents who lived opposite of each other in the district, began on Tuesday evening for reasons which remained unclear.

The violence broke out when a group of people from Kampung Siak began to throw rocks at residents from Kebon Sayur.

In this initial violence, a resident of Kebon Sayur, Herry, died after being shot in the head by an air riffle. Residents of Kebon Sayur buried Herry on Wednesday and did not attempt to retaliate against the Kampung Siak residents, Yatna said.

However, during a prayer for Herry on Wednesday night, a group of unidentified men approached Herry's house and burned the yellow flags which are customarily flown by a grieving family.

The incident rekindled tension between the two groups and was followed by a bloody clash on Thursday morning.

A number of residents interviewed by the Post said there was no police presence in the area during the clashes.

A truckload of riot police arrived at the scene hours after four fire engines were deployed to the area to put out the blazes. The presence of the firefighters helped disperse the combatants, one witness said.

South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Satrya Harry Prasetya said on Thursday the police arrived late because they did not immediately receive information about the violence.

"We're sorry for the victim who died in the brawl. It is our hope that such brawls can be avoided in the future through dialog between the disputing sides," Harry said.

Last year, street brawls in Manggarai claimed three lives and damaged a number of homes, forcing hundreds of residents to flee the area.

In an attempt to end the feud, Governor Sutiyoso suggested residents join the government's transmigration program.

The residents, however, paid little heed to this proposal. (04/ylt)