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)