Two killed in fights over petty disputes

JAKARTA (JP): Clashes over a parking dispute and bus routes left two people dead in Greater Jakarta, the city police spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis identified one of the victims as 29- year-old Lebar, a resident of Ciseeng village in Bogor, some 60 kilometers south of here.

Lebar was killed in a parking lot on Jl. Casablanca, Setia Budi, South Jakarta, on Wednesday at around 6 p.m.

"Lebar got into a small argument with a group of parking attendants. The argument got out of hand and all those involved suddenly got physical and started beating each other up.

"Lebar died of severe wounds to his head and other parts of his body," Zainuri said.

The officer identified the second victim as 30-year-old Purba, who was killed at the Cikokol bus station on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan, Tangerang, on Wednesday at about 3 p.m.

He said Purba was killed during a clash between some 50 Bataks and eight Ambonese, all of them members of bus crews.

"A 27-year-old man named Natalius was also seriously injured and is being treated," Zainuri said.

Zainuri said the Bataks came to the bus station to discuss bus routes with the Ambonese.

"But when they arrived at the station, the Ambonese took it the wrong way and both parties started fighting. In the clash, Purba was killed." (41/edt/ylt)