Price protest ends in vandalism
Price protest ends in vandalism
MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A protest against the rising
prices of basic commodities was held in Ende yesterday but ended
in vandalism, Regent Frans Gedowolo said.
The incident, which is the latest in a spate of food riots
that have taken place in several Indonesian cities over the past
few weeks, resulted in damage to at least 16 shops, two cars and
two motorcycles. Some of the properties were set on fire, while
others were pelted with stones.
"The disturbance was purely because of the rising prices of
basic commodities," Gedowolo told The Jakarta Post by phone last
night.
Gedowolo denied rumors that one man was stoned to death during
the disturbance. "It was just a coincidence. A man, a local, not
a Chinese, died near where the disturbance broke out," he said.
He gave no other details.
Resident sources said the disturbance broke out at about
midday. The demonstration involved about 200 people and started
on Saturday. There was not yet any information as to why it
turned violent.
No arrest was reported. Local police and military authorities
could not be reached for comment.
"The police chief is out in the field monitoring the
situation," a police officer at the Ende police precinct said
when contacted from Jakarta last night.
The unrest in Ende has also affected the situation in Maumere,
the Sikka regency, as can be seen by the strong presence of the
military and police.
The disturbance in Ende happened a day after similar unrest
broke out Saturday in the Bima regency in the neighboring West
Nusa Tenggara province.
Three shops were set ablaze and seven others damaged during
unrest following a demonstration against price hikes that turned
violent.
"It's returned to normal here now," an on-duty military
officer, First Sergeant Abdullah, told the Post last night,
adding, however, that shops remained closed.
He said "hundreds" of soldiers and police were still "on red
alert", guarding the town against more unrest yesterday.
The incidents were the latest to occur following skyrocketing
prices of essential commodities.
Similar violence has previously broken out in Pasuruan and
Tuban in East Java; Rembang in Central Java; Ujungpandang in
South Sulawesi and Donggala in Central Sulawesi. (yac/aan)