Tensions remain high in Jambi village

Tensions remain high in Jambi village

JAMBI, Jambi: Tensions were still high in a village in
Merangin, Jambi, on Saturday four days after angry residents
smashed up the local head office on Tuesday, alleging they were
being cheated of their fuel compensation money.

The police presence was high in Rantaujering village in
Lembahmasurai in anticipation of a further attack on the
compound.

"We are still trying to solve the problem amicably,"
Lembahmasurai district head Hasan Bassi said on Saturday, adding
that most of the residents were related to each other.

However, the vandals would be required to fix the damage or
they would be taken to court, he said.

The attack erupted when angry residents complained they had
not received the cash aid, which is being distributed to poor
families by the government to ease the impact of the fuel price
increases. Villagers allege many of the relatives of the village
head, Jerjani, had received the full Rp 300,000 (US$30)
assistance for three months.

Jerjani later decided to cut the cash aid down to Rp 100,000 a
family, deducting Rp 20,000 for transportation costs and paying
Rp 80,000 to others who he said were not otherwise eligible for
the cash aid.

The decision upset the residents who went to the village
office to meet Jerjani. He was not there and they smashed up the
building. -- JP