Sutiyoso says provocateurs at work in Matraman conflict
Sutiyoso says provocateurs at work in Matraman conflict
BANDUNG (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said here on Monday
that he suspected provocateurs were behind a series of recent
brawls between residents of neighboring Palmeriam and Kebon
Manggis subdistricts in Matraman area of East Jakarta.
"I don't understand why the residents keep on fighting after
the city administration sponsored a reconciliation meeting for
them.
"There must be one or more people who provoked these
incidents. I'm sure that it was not the residents' wish to
fight," Governor Sutiyoso told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines
of a consultation forum on regional autonomy at Hotel Horison
here.
"We'll take necessary legal actions to prevent the brawl from
happening again," he said.
He dismissed speculation that the fighting was triggered by
rivalry between residents of the Berlan military housing complex
in Kebon Manggis subdistrict and civilians living in the opposite
Palmeriam subdistrict.
"There's no such rivalry between residents of these
subdistricts," he said.
"Besides, civilian residents in other areas in the city can
live in harmony although there are military housing complexes
nearby," he added.
Commenting on East Jakarta mayor Andi Mappaganty's plan to
erect a two-meter high, 400-meter long fence along Jl. Matraman
median, which will separate the two subdistricts, Sutiyoso said
he would study the feasibility of the plan first.
"I have to study the proposal and whether it will be effective
in stopping the fights from happening again," he said.
City Council speaker Edy Waluyo, who attended the Monday
forum, shared the governor's opinion.
"Rivalry between military members and civilians is not a big
deal. There must be something wrong here," he said.
Separately, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said
on Monday that the two warring groups torched two more buildings
during their most recent fight on Sunday night.
"There is no clear reason why the residents of Berlan and
Palmeriam in Matraman continue fighting. They just keep setting
fires for no reason," Zainuri said.
He said their latest brawl destroyed PT Multi Wahana Wija, a
private company, and a clothing store.
"These residents just don't seem to understand. It is their
money, and our money, that will have to cover the losses,"
Zainuri said.
He added that police officers deployed in the area were
worried to take stiff measures to stop the angry residents.
By early Sunday morning, residents have torched 12 buildings,
including shops and houses. No fatalities were reported in the
clashes between the residents of Palmeriam and Kebon Manggis.
The clash was first prompted by a small incident between local
teenagers.
Meanwhile, city military commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu
said on Monday that he had deployed a troop of 100 soldiers as a
backup for the police officers in the area.
Ryamizard also denied allegations that several military
officers who live with families in the area were among those who
initiated the brawls between the neighbors.
"If there are soldiers who provoked the fighting, I would have
gathered them up for punishment," Ryamizard said after attending
the 54th anniversary of Persit Kartika Chandra Kirana, an
organization of the wives of soldiers.
He acknowledged that the area was home to several retired army
soldiers and that their children were often involved in the
clashes.
"It is impossible for the Army to be involved in the clash,"
he said. (ylt/dja/nvn)