Police vow to nab Bojong vandals

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor

Bogor police will arrest the vandals of Bojong waste treatment plant four days ago, chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito said on Friday.

Speaking at a meeting to mediate talks between facility operator PT Wira Sarana Sejahtera, Bogor administration, and local residents, Wasgito said on Friday that the police would investigate and capture the vandals.

The meeting, held at Bogor Police Headquarters, was not attended by any of the villagers opposing the plant.

Wasgito suspected Yos Triasa of the Communication Forum of People who Care for the Environment, an organization established last year by residents of seven villages surrounding the plant, and Ipang, a Bojong resident, as being involved in the riot.

A security post, four motorcycle's and the plant's office were left in ruins as a result of Monday's attack. Nobody was reported injured in the incident.

Residents are opposed to the facility because they fear environmental damage and health hazards such as what occurred in Bantar Gebang dump, Bekasi.

Bogor administration and police have said that the plant is a waste treatment facility and is different from Bantar Gebang dump, which uses a landfill system that had polluted neighboring areas and caused respiratory problems and skin diseases.

In a letter from the forum to Bogor police, made available to The Jakarta Post, it requested that the West Java and Bogor regency Councils should mediate talks between the parties involved.

"If the administration or the operator keeps pushing the operation of the plant, we fear that there will be continuous resistance from residents," said the forum.

"Please, hear the voices of the locals, who will be directly affected by the project's policies."