Senen bus drivers upset of soldier

Senen bus drivers upset of soldier

JAKARTA (JP): The busy Senen bus terminal in Central Jakarta
was tense on Sunday when scores of drivers flocked to a nearby
police station and threatened to attack the post shortly after a
soldier had beaten one of their colleagues.

The angry drivers demanded the police take stern measures
against Chief Private Amril Hambali of the Army's water
transportation battalion, or they would take the law into their
own hands.

No serious damage or clashes were reported as the police then
detained Amril and immediately drove him to the nearby Jakarta
Garrison Headquarters for further questioning.

At least two truckloads of marines were deployed to calm the
angry drivers and secure the area, one of the capital's busiest
districts.

Police and witnesses said that Metro Mini driver Wahyudi
suffered wounds to his head and chest after being beaten by
Amril, who was upset after Wahyudi's minibus grazed the soldier's
motorcycle.

"Amril first told Wahyudi to get out off the bus but the
latter apparently refused to do so as he insisted that Amril was
the one who had used the wrong lane," Sgt. Suwadji for the local
police said.

The offended Amril then dragged Wahyudi from behind the
steering wheel and hit him on his head and chest.

"The scene was witnessed by Wahyudi's fellow drivers who then
stopped the altercation and brought the two here," the police
said. (emf)