Residents live in fear after violent brawl in Kalijodo

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Residents living near the Kalijodo gambling and brothel complex in North Jakarta, lamented their fate after fire razed their homes and their belongings early on Friday.

The fire was triggered by a brawl between two groups of thugs connected with the brothel complex.

Parinah, a 45-year-old resident, said in tears that all her belongings collected over 33 years had vanished in just two hours.

"I lost my television set, refrigerator and my savings of Rp 1.5 million (US$147) in just two hours. The equipment and ingredients which I just bought for Saturday's business were also destroyed," said the nasi ulam (steamed rice with vegetables and meat) vendor in Pluit market, North Jakarta.

"It also destroyed my source of income. I could only save myself and brought nothing but the clothes I was wearing. I have to start all over again now."

Parinah -- who has lived in Kalijodo since 1967 -- is currently taking shelter with her four children and 12 grandchildren, who used to live together under the same roof, at the Tambora District Office in West Jakarta, which is just 100 meters from her house.

Over 300 residents sought refuge at the office which has provided them with a public kitchen and bedding.

Parinah said she had no plans in the near future. To restart her business, she would need at least Rp 5 million.

"Perhaps my grandchildren and I will stay temporarily in my sister's house in Jelambar, West Jakarta. But I think they're still busy cleaning their house after the flood. We may have to stay for a while at this office," she said.

Despite all her losses, Parinah was still afraid of pointing the finger at a particular group to be held responsible for the fire. They have terrorized local residents, she said.

"If I had money, I would have moved years ago. Unfortunately I had no choice," she complained, adding that she had to give at least Rp 10,000 daily in protection money to the hoodlums.

A similar experience was expressed by Nico, not his real name, whose two-story house was razed by fire.

"It was my grandfather's which he built in the 1940s when he was on duty to guard the floodgate. Now, the house which was worth Rp 160 million was leveled to the ground. Luckily, I already moved my things earlier before the first riot broke out on Feb. 16.," said Nico, who pledged to take revenge on the hoodlums.

Although he has another house in Parung Panjang, Bogor regency, Nico stayed in Kalijodo, fearing that otherwise, the thugs would have looted his property.

"When I start my life in Parung, I want to live a normal life. Definitely not like life in Kalijodo. Just imagine what it is like when you're threatened daily by riots, brawls and other violence. But at the same time the inherited land was valuable to me," he said.

Nico, who works at a private company, not only lost his house but also a boarding house and a motorcycle parking lot. From both these sources of income, he could earn at least Rp 4 million a month.

Both victims were still grateful that they were able to escape the fire.

"Several hoodlums tried to prevent me from leaving my house. But I forced my way out as the fire was about to engulf my house," Parihah recalled.

Nico, who lived right across from the hoodlum's headquarters, explained the thugs had pelted stones at locals residents when they attempted to escape.

"They wouldn't let us get out of the alley, they tried to burn us to death."

Two companies of Mobile Brigade Police consisting of about 200 personnel and the intelligence division were seen guarding and patrolling the site.

At least 200 houses were burned down during the brawl between groups of thugs representing two ethnic groups of South Sulawesi early on Friday as a continuation of the Feb. 16 brawl which claimed one life.