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)