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.