Police continue probe into attack on Tangerang kiosks

TANGERANG (JP): Local police are still investigating the burning and destruction of 14 food kiosks Saturday evening by about 2,000 angry Cikupa residents who accused the warung owners of offering prostitution services.

As of yesterday, no one had been arrested and no fatalities had been reported. Estimated material losses are in the millions of rupiah.

"We still need to question a number of people believed to have taken part in the incident," said a police officer yesterday at the scene, where police had been deployed to maintain order.

The attack against the food stalls in Kampung Kawidaran in Cibadak village on Jl. Raya Serang started at about 9 p.m. Saturday.

Local residents gathered and started yelling and throwing rocks and wood at the kiosks. Panicked owners and customers inside the stalls ran away as the situation grew out of control.

As the kiosks emptied out, the angry mob ran amok and destroyed 11 kiosks and then set ablaze three others.

Local police officers and four fire brigade units rushing to the scene brought the situation under control after a few hours.

Ramadhan

A resident, Imam, told reporters yesterday that many of his neighbors had grown weary of warning the kiosk owners and asking local authorities to stop the area's sex trade, especially during Ramadhan, the Moslem fasting month.

"We finally had to act on our own after receiving no response from the regent and the Tangerang legislative council," he said.

Imam believed each of the food kiosks offered five or six prostitutes, which could be hired for Rp 25,000.

"Customers could be joined by a prostitute in a bedroom at the kiosk or in the bushes behind the kiosks," Imam said.

The residents, he said, could no longer contain themselves when they learned that the kiosk owners still ran their illegal sex business during Ramadhan.

Saturday's incident was the third case of a massive attack by angry residents against warung believed to offer illegal services during this year's fasting month.

The first took place at Pondok Aren where angry residents damaged food kiosks suspected of offering prostitution services.

The second was in Teluk Naga where people attacked kiosks believed to be gambling dens. (41/bsr)