Two arrested for brawling

JAKARTA (JP): Police have formally charged two men for possessing sharp weapons during Sunday's sporadic brawls between residents of two districts in South Jakarta's Bukit Duri area.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang yesterday said the two, identified only as Wn, 39, and Nd, 28, were caught during the brawls with sharp weapons in their possession.

"They will be at least charged under Article 2 of the 1951 Emergency Law Number 12 for illegally carrying sharp weapons," he said.

The article carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

Wn, Nd and three other men were detained by police at the South Jakarta Police Precinct after the brawls. They were initially questioned for their roles in the brawls, Aritonong said.

The other three, who were still in police custody, would be released later if there was no evidence to charge them, the officer said.

The brawls took place over several hours from 10 p.m. Sunday following a heated dispute over an afternoon soccer match between the teams of the two districts, he said.

Five people received bullet wounds in the leg when police tried to break up the fighting. Aritonang defended the police use of firearms, saying the shots were not actually aimed at the victims. (cst)