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.