Residents protest reopening of hotel

TANGERANG (JP): About 200 residents of Kadu village in Curug district stormed Transelindo Hotel here Thursday, protesting the management's plan to reopen the hotel after it was damaged during the May 14 riot.

The protesters, who destroyed the hotel's security guard post and pulled down its signpost, objected because the hotel had a bar and karaoke hall. They demanded the management build a supermarket on the site.

Wibisono, one of the hotel's executives, said the hotel owners decided to renovate the damaged hotel even though they suffered losses of about Rp 2 billion because of the riot.

"Due to the fresh protest, we don't know whether the hotel will continue," he said.

Tangerang mayoralty spokeswoman Ena Karlina deplored the protest, saying the hotel management had completed all the required permits.

Ena said the mayoralty would investigate the incident to determine if it was organized by a particular group. (41/jun)