Police clash with Matraman residents

Police clash with Matraman residents

JAKARTA (JP): Another clash between the police and residents
broke out in the Matraman area of East Jakarta late on Saturday,
with Jl. Matraman being closed for some hours following the
incident.

No casualties were reported.

The clash occurred as the police tried to stop the residents
from attacking the Mega Matra Hotel over the death of two local
residents who were beaten up by the hotel's security guards last
week.

A local, Yudi, 34, said, as quoted by Antara, that the move to
attack the hotel had been brewing since Thursday after the death
of Jerry Malaiholo and another resident, identified as Kadal.

During Saturday's incident, the police fired several tear-gas
canisters to disperse the crowd.

Matraman is known for a prolonged feud among the residents of
the area.

In a bid to put the long-standing conflict to an end, the city
authorities built last year a fence along the street separating
the two groups of community. (dja)