Vendors jailed for Tanah Abang rioting

JAKARTA (JP): Four sidewalk vendors were convicted by the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday for their roles in a riot near Tanah Abang market in January.

Willem Morgan, at 17 years old the youngest of the four, received the stiffest term of one year imprisonment because he was also convicted of arson.

Hadi Subarno, 39, and Daniel H. Tanjung, 22, received nine months and Erri Suanto, 28, got seven.

They were all found guilty of jointly and deliberately using force against another person or property.

Prosecutor Petrus Sambara had earlier demanded 18 months for Willem, 16 months for Daniel and Hadi, and 10 months for Erri.

The defendants had admitted in court to taking part in the riot, during which the Tanah Abang district office was gutted and four cars parked outside burned.

The riot was sparked by a row between vendors and the market's security officers.

Judge Sartono cited their admission of guilt and expression of remorse as mitigating factors in deciding on the sentences.

Their action was a spontaneous reaction toward the harsh way security officers at the market behaved toward vendors, they said.

A mob of 300 vendors from Tanah Abang market attacked the district office on Jan. 27 when security officers told the vendors to move from the sidewalk.

"It was not solely the defendants' fault," Sartono said.

The four defendants said they would not appeal.

Yesterday's ruling took the number of people convicted for the riot to eight. The same court earlier sentenced four other men, including a minor, to jail terms of between eight months and one year. (12)