Sutiyoso disappointed at renewed Matraman brawls
Sutiyoso disappointed at renewed Matraman brawls
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday that he was
deeply disappointed at the fresh outbreaks of mass brawls between
two neighborhoods near Jl. Matraman Raya, East Jakarta, in spite
of a joint forum to bridge the two communities.
Sutiyoso recalled that he personally inaugurated the Matraman
Residents Communication Forum (FKPMM) on May 7 to reconcile the
Palmeriam and Kebon Manggis neighborhoods which have had a long
history of destructive inter-fighting.
The governor visited the area to inspect the damage caused by
the brawls that erupted on Thursday. He talked to residents of
Kebon Manggis and conducted Friday prayers at a local mosque.
East Jakarta Mayor Andi Mapaganti escorted the governor.
After the prayers, Sutiyoso gave Mapaganti an ultimatum to
restore peace and order in the area or lose his job.
Many shops along the Jl. Matraman thoroughfare reopened for
business on Friday morning as a police patrol car stood by.
The two neighborhoods stand opposite each other across the
busy Jl. Matraman.
Six people were injured in the latest clashes between the two
neighborhoods on Thursday which saw the use of Molotov cocktails
and sickles by both parties. The fight began after Palmeriam
residents accused Kebon Manggis people of injuring a South
Jakarta man in their area.
Mapaganti told reporters that he was prepared to be dismissed
from his job if the governor considered him a failure.
"I would take similar measures. If one of my staff failed to
perform his duty, I would sack him," he said.
He added, however, that Sutiyoso considered that he and the
district and subdistrict chiefs had done their utmost to end the
long drawn-out conflict between the two neighborhoods.
The efforts included raising a two-meter high iron fence on
the median strip along Jl. Matraman and the provision of sports
equipment to encourage residents to turn their energy to positive
activities, he said.
The forum's co-head, Moh. Hasanuddin from Kebon Manggis, asked
the mayoralty to extend the iron fence all the way to Jl. Pramuka
considering that the clashes often occurred opposite the Gramedia
book store.
Hasanuddin proposed the establishment of a watch post, to be
jointly managed by the two neighborhoods, at the Gramedia
building.
"We will improve our approach, focusing on the young people
because they triggered the unrest," he said.
He said the forum would also bring in the role of families and
religion in bringing peace in the two neighborhoods. (06)