Peace returns to Bandung after street vendors' riot

Peace returns to Bandung after street vendors' riot

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Things returned to normal in the city
here yesterday after a brief melee a day earlier which saw
hundreds of shops damaged by rampaging vendors.

Rocks and debris which had littered Jl. Ahmad Yani were
cleaned away, and apart from the presence of some security
officers and broken glass from buildings, all was quiet.

Picking up the pieces of the previous day's frenzy, both the
military and provincial officials maintained the incident was not
politically motivated.

Governor R. Nuriana said the incident was triggered by a
misunderstanding between National Discipline Movement officers
and street vendors.

"Don't blow up this matter. There were some officers that
overacted and annoyed the vendors," he said.

He said the vendors should be allowed to sell their
merchandise on the sidewalk during the Ramadhan fasting month and
Idul Fitri as long as they maintained order.

"They certainly have to obey the rules. But on the other hand,
security officers should not go beyond the limit," he said.

Lt. Col. Jusuf Mulia, spokesman for the Siliwangi Military
Command, also said that based on reports from police
investigations, the rampage was unintentional and was considered
a pure criminal action, Antara reported.

Bandung Police Chief Col. Erwin Mappaseng said that at least
four street vendors were questioned yesterday following the
unrest.

The vendors were caught throwing stones, he was quoted by
Antara as saying. The four were identified as Arpen, 38, Didin
Saripudin, 40, Rohana, 41 and Tarkum, 30.

Erwin said police are still investigating the improper action
of National Discipline Movement officers which sparked the
unrest.

"Only public security officers have the right to discipline
the vendors," he added.

The unrest reportedly damaged 83 shops. Three vehicles and 64
flower pots were also reportedly damaged.

Witnesses said the National Discipline Movement officers had
treated the street vendors harshly, including forcibly tipping
over their wares.

But Army spokesman Brig. Gen. ID Putu Rai denied that National
Discipline Movement officers were involved in sparking the
unrest.

He said that other local public order officers who were
assigned to help maintain discipline were the ones responsible.

"It is true that they wore vests, but it wasn't National
Discipline Movement vests," he said referring to the orange vests
distributed to the movement's cadres.

The National Discipline Movement was first launched by
President Soeharto in May 1995. But the Army relaunched the
campaign in September after it felt that little had been
accomplished in the two-year period. (43/09)