Vehicles, shops damaged in rival district brawl

Vehicles, shops damaged in rival district brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the Palmeriam and Berlan subdistricts, who have been embroiled in a 30-year conflict, fought again Sunday night, burning at least one car and damaging two other vehicles and nearby shops.

Dozens of residents from both East Jakarta neighborhoods, which are separated by Jl. Matraman, began throwing stones at each other at about 8:30 p.m. No casualties were reported.

"No fatalities were found on either side. But a car was set ablaze and several buildings were damaged due to the stone- throwing," the chief of the East Jakarta police precinct, Lt. Col. Nanan Soekarna, was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said three people were questioned but no one was detained in connection with the brawl.

The burned car belonged to Yusron Muluk, a resident of Sumur Batu, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, who had parked it in Palmeriam subdistrict.

The angry residents dispersed as soon as they saw the arrival of hundreds of officers from local police precincts and military units.

Nanan said the brawls first occurred in the 1960s, when ethnic tensions between residents of the two neighborhoods were running particularly high.

"The older generations have reached an agreement to forge good and friendly relations, but unfortunately the younger generations ignore it," he said.

Wafi, 51, from Palmeriam, echoed Nanan's view. He expressed concern over the attitude of the youths who were involved in the brawl.

Other residents said that the fighting continued because young people wanted to prove they were not afraid of their age-old enemies.

The East Jakarta military district commander, Lt. Col. Suharsono, said that he had tried to act as a mediator between the two subdistricts.

"We have invited influential figures from the two sides to several meetings to help solve the brawling, but unfortunately it continues regardless," he said.

Wafi stressed that Sunday night's incident was sparked by residents of Berlan. No one from Palmeriam were seen hanging around the streets. "Possibly because they were angry to see no one from Palmerian, they started the stone-throwing and damaged the car," he said.

Police officers were seen guarding the site until 10:30 p.m. They blocked traffic from entering Palmeriam.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang urged the public not to be provoked by people, who sought to open old wounds.

"If they want to be heroes, they should not do that in the city. We take pity on others, who know nothing about the problem, but fall victim to their (the brawlers') ineffective action," he said.

The last clash in the area took place during the election campaign in May. (cst/hhr)