Village office destruction probed

TANGERANG (JP): Police are investigating Thursday's destruction of the Kayu Agung village office and the house of the village head, an officer said on Friday.

"We are in the process of looking for the culprits who provoked villagers into attacking the two buildings," Tangerang Police precinct chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said.

At least 300 Kayu Agung villagers of Sepatan district ran amok and vandalized the office and house of the village head, Mingsar, 45, on Thursday because he allegedly failed to keep his promise to improve the welfare of local people, he said without giving details.

Pudji said the angry villagers accused Mingsar of taking away rice rations intended for local poor people.

"The villagers were also disappointed by Mingsar's inability to fulfill the promise he made, when campaigning for the village head post, to pave Jl. Mangga Dua in the village," Pudji said.

"The villagers have frequently asked that the promise be honored because the road is badly damaged, but they have received no response," he said.

Tangerang regency spokeswoman, Ena Karlina, said on Friday that the regency had not set aside money from its budget for the village road.

"If the village head wants to repair it with his own money, he can go ahead," she said.

To implement development projects in the village, its head should consult with the district head to decide which project should be given priority, she said. "So people shouldn't just promise, except if the funds have been calculation in the budget," she added.

The villagers also accused Mingsar of lack of transparency in the distribution of aid in the form of chickens from the central government to help the poor.

They arrived at Mingsar's office on Thursday to seek an explanation over all their grievances, only to be angered by his failure to appear after a long wait.

The villagers later pelted the windows of the office with stones and knocked the building's stilts down.

After destroying the village office, they attacked Mingsar's house.

Security officers from local police and military district later arrived at the scene and restored calm.

Ena suggested on Friday that the village head to move to a temporary office building to enable the continuation of administration services to the public. "The district head can help solve the problem," she said. (41/ivy/hhr)