Parts of Batam deserted after riots, killing

Parts of Batam deserted after riots, killing

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

The situation in certain strategic areas in Batam is still tense
following three ethnic riots that rocked the island over the
weekend.

Nagoya, a large shopping center, and the Sekupang Seaport, two
crowded public areas, were deserted, with no signs of public
transportation, ojek (motorcycle taxis) or hoodlums while dozens
of security personnel were on alert at the two locations.

Many locals were reluctant to go out on the streets or to go
to the shopping center for fear of fresh riots following the
three brawls among several ethnic groups on the island on Friday
and Saturday last week.

Tensions mounted on Tuesday when scores of youths using
military uniforms ransacked the population control office to
protest the local administration's policy of barring people from
other parts of the country from migrating to the island.

At least 56 protesters, all members of the Panca Marga Youth
Organization (PPM) were detained by local police for further
questioning.

Last Friday, some 700 Javanese people ran amok to protest the
extortion by hoodlums of ojek drivers in the Nagoya shopping
center.

Sugeng, a protester, said the angry mob was seeking hoodlums
who routinely extort money from ojek drivers, who are mostly
Javanese.

"We could not longer tolerate the rife extortion of Javanese
people who earn their living from such a profession (ojek
drivers). Patience has its limits," he said in an emotional tone.

Sugeng said the ojek drivers ran amok because a hut where they
usually stay while waiting for passengers was ransacked by
hoodlums.

The rioters also ransacked a small house where the hoodlums
usually gather.

The angry mob dispersed after dozens of security personnel
were deployed to bring the situation under control.

On the same day, a group of Flores people assaulted a number
of Batak hoodlums in Sekupang Seaport, leaving one dead and two
others seriously injured.

A Flores youth, whose wallet was stolen by a Batak hoodlum
when he was disembarking from a ship the Kelud, anchored off the
island en route from Jakarta to Belawan, Medan, came back with
his Flores friends to exact revenge against the thief.

A violent clash ensued. Saido, 25, was killed instantly while
Rudianto, 26, and Muhammad Suryani, 26, suffered serious head
injuries.

On Saturday night, a violent clash also occurred between
mostly Minangkabau taxi drivers, and drivers of unlicensed
passenger minivans near the Bida Ayu housing compound, located
near the Batamindo industrial zone. No fatalities were reported
but a minivan was torched in the incident.

Sr. Comr. Suhartono, chief of the Barelang Police precinct,
said the four incidents were regrettable, saying the island was
quite prone to ethnic riots because of the presence of various
ethnic groupings and organizations.

"People of different ethnic backgrounds have their own group
or organization and any problem faced by one of their members is
usually handled by the organization," he said citing that many
such incidents of ethnic violence have occurred in the past.

In June, 1999, more than 10 people were killed in a bloody
riot between Flores and Batak people and between Minangkabau and
Batak people. Last year, a clash also occurred between Batak and
Malay people.

Many people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have
migrated to Batam since the government developed the island
bordering Singapore and Malaysia into an industrial area and
tourist destination.

The 5,000 plus local and foreign companies on the island
employ more than 400,000 workers who come from numerous
provinces.

Of the 750,000 residents on the island, 95 percent are from
different ethnic groups across the country.

Suhartono warned that the ethnic issue was a time bomb that
could explode unless properly handled.

"The local police will continue to take strict measures in
accordance with the law in handling such cases," he said.

Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir said he was lobbying ethnic figures on
the island to help solve ethnic problems and to take preventive
actions to avoid such problems in the future.

"We won't allow such ethnic problems to disturb the inflow of
foreign investment to Batam," he said.

He admitted the current ethnic violence had raised serious
concerns among foreign businessmen who have investments on the
island.

Kadir said that besides controlling the inflow of migrants,
local authorities would be stricter in enforcing the law on those
involved in ethnic riots or violence.