Tension grows as soldier killed in brawl
Tension grows as soldier killed in brawl
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
One soldier was killed and two others severely injured on Sunday
morning during an attack by a sword-wielding, drunken mob on the
Denpasar Moon nightclub here.
First Corp. I Gusti Ngurah Ketut Suardika died from stab
wounds, while First Corp. Tanabudi and First Corp. Celagi were
rushed to Sanglah Hospital.
The Denpasar Police have detained two of the suspected
attackers, who are members of a well-known gang, and have
questioned five witnesses in connection with the brawl.
The national flag at the Wirasatya Bali Military Command was
flying at half-staff, while the area around the military housing
complex was tense, with rumors of a possible retaliatory attack
being rife.
"I have assembled my officers and ordered them to keep their
men calm so that there will be no revenge attack. I have also
instructed military intelligence to assist the police in tracking
down those responsible for the killing," Bali Military Commander
Col. IGP Buana said.
A source revealed that one senior military officer had spoken
to the gang's leader and asked him to surrender all the attackers
to the police or face a military revenge attack. The gang leader
reportedly apologized for the incident and expressed his
willingness to comply with the demand.
The nightclub is located on Jl. Jendral Sudirman, right across
the street from the second largest military installation and
housing complex on the island, which includes the military
headquarters.
A witness said the three soldiers were manning the internal
affairs post at the military headquarters when at around 6:30
a.m. they received a report of a violent brawl at the nearby
club.
"The report said the brawl involved several youths from the
military housing complex. The three soldiers rushed to the club
to break up the fight," he said.
In fact, the brawl pitted the club's three security guards
against dozens of armed men in a drunken state, who are believed
to be members of one of the most notorious gangs in Denpasar.
The gang attacked the newly arrived soldiers with sharp
weapons and dumped them at the club's front gate. The club's
guards only sustained minor injuries.