Thousands riot over building of school

Thousands riot over building of school

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan

Some 3,000 people ran amok on Friday in a protest against the
building of a school in Cikampek subdistrict, Karawang regency,
West Java.

At least two people were injured in the melee that started at
around 2:30 p.m. There were no reports of deaths.

The angry crowd from South Cikampek village damaged a car and
burned construction materials at the nearby building site, Antara
reported.

All shops, particularly those belonging to ethnic Chinese
residents, were forced to close and the riot caused a heavy
traffic jam on West Java's north coastal road.

Officials and residents said Abdi Karya Foundation (Yadika)
failed to obtain permission from local villages to build the
school in South Cikampek.

It was not clear why the locals are opposed to the building of
a school. Police officers in Karawang and Cikampek refused to
comment.

The rampage stopped at around 4:30 p.m. after Karawang Regent
Ahmad Dadang arrived at the scene and ordered the foundation to
halt the construction activities.

"If the foundation rejects my instruction, please sue me," the
regent said before the rioting crowd.

He said the building of the school violated the procedures as
the owners failed to obtain permission from the local community.
"Be warned, never carry out a development illegally," he said.

Hundreds of police officers arrived at the scene and fired
warning shots to disperse the rioters.

Meanwhile, the North Sumatra town of Tanjung Balai was also
tense on Friday following a brawl the previous evening between
rival youth groups that left several people injured. No
casualties were reported.

Police deployed dozens of personnel to guard the town, while
local residents were forced to stay home for fear of becoming
targets.

The clash on Thursday night involved local members of the
Pancasila Youths and a group of hoodlums at the Tanjung Balai bus
terminal.

Teluk Nibung Police chief Adj. Comr. Syamsul Bahri Lubis said
several people sustained stab wounds in the conflict. "The number
of injured is not clear yet. But it is certain that there are no
fatalities," he said.

Asahan Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Edi Priadi said
on Friday that the situation in Tanjung Balai remained tense, but
was largely under control.

Around 100 police officers were sent from Asahan to the brawl-
hit town to help secure the area, he added.

Edi said police were also stationed at the local Pancasila
Youths office and a deployment was monitoring the camp of
hoodlums to prevent further clashes.

"We are worried that a brawl could erupt again, as both groups
have injured members," he told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Syamsul said the clash was triggered by a personal issue that
expanded into a dispute involving the two groups.

The triggering incident involved two Pancasila Youths
motorists who were reportedly beaten in Pahang, Datuk Bandar
subdistrict, by suspected members of a hoodlum group at the bus
terminal.

The two victims reported the incident to their group and
sought out their attackers for revenge along with other Pancasila
Youths members. The group reportedly abducted a youth believed to
be one of the attackers from the hoodlum group.

Hearing rumors that one of their members was kidnapped, the
hoodlum youths moved out to find the abductors and rescue him.

A clash ensued when the two groups confronted each other,
armed with traditional weapons such as machetes and other sharp
implements.

The brawl ended hours later after police from Tanjung Balai
and Teluk Nibung intervened.

Pancasila Youths members are traditional supporters of the
newly founded Pancasila Patriots' Party led by Japto S.
Soerjosoemarno, which is contesting the 2004 general election.

"It's good that the violence did not spread, so political
parties can campaign normally. No campaign activities have been
disrupted," he said.

Edi said the police had questioned several suspects and
witnesses over the clash.