Thousands in Mataram storm prosecutor's office

Thousands in Mataram storm prosecutor's office

Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram

At least 10,000 protesters stormed the prosecutor's office in
Lombok on Monday in another move to interfere with justice,
showing support for West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Serinata and
demanding the release of nine jailed graft suspects.

The protesters smashed windows and injured several journalists
covering the event as well as Mataram Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.
Ismail Bafadal.

All prosecutors and staff at the office fled to safety during
the attack, which caused panic among family members of the staff,
who live in a housing complex right behind the office.

One of the protesters, Fendi, claimed the protest had been
staged in support of the governor, who is scheduled to be
questioned by the prosecutor's office on Wednesday as a witness
in a mark-up case worth Rp 24.5 billion (US$2.7 million) of the
West Nusa Tenggara 2001 provincial budget.

"We see this (the questioning) as an effort to bring down the
governor before (his term ends on) 2008. We don't want to see our
leader being taken down," he said.

Another protester, Arifin, questioned prosecutors for
arresting nine former councillors allegedly involved in a
corruption case. "Why are they being arrested? We want them
released," he said.

The nine former councillors were arrested last week after 12
people, including three councilors who are still in office, were
named as suspects in the case. The prosecutor's office is still
waiting for the Minister of Home Affairs' approval to arrest the
remaining three suspects.

Monday's attack initially received no response from police
officers guarding the interior and exterior of the prosecutor's
office, until West Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. M.
Tosin, whose office is located next to the prosecutor's office,
ordered his officers to break up the demonstration.

Mataram Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ismail Bafadal was hit in
the right eye and neck by stones while attempting to restore
order. Several local journalists covering the protest were also
pelted with stones.

West Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. M. Tosin, who had
attempted to negotiate with the protesters, could not escape the
shower of stones either.

A tank and more police officers were then deployed to scare
off the protesters but to no avail.

The protesters, some of whom were seen carrying sharp objects,
dispersed only after being told to do so by the protest
coordinator. Earlier, they had planned to stage a demonstration
at Mataram Penitentiary but called off the plan due to the
prison's tight security.

Following the attack, the prosecutor's office was tightly
guarded by police, with some valuable assets, like computers and
files, removed from the office for fear of further attacks.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office Zailan
Arifin, said that despite the attack, the case would not be
suspended. "They've been arrested and there will be no
suspension," he said.