Villagers attack Serpong factory

Villagers attack Serpong factory

JAKARTA (JP): About 200 Suradita villagers in Serpong,
Tangerang, attacked a chemical factory late Tuesday after
learning that one of its employees allegedly attempted to rape a
local girl on the previous day.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said on
Wednesday that the angry mob swarmed into the compound of PT Indo
Farma, located in the village, at 7:30 p.m. and attack the
factory.

A Kijang van, a 28-inch television, a security office and a
dormitory for the factory's employees were damaged, Aritonang
said.

"The total material losses have yet to be calculated but
judging from the things damaged, I think it can reach hundreds of
millions of rupiah," the officer said.

According to Aritonang, the incident was sparked by an alleged
sexual assault by one of Indo Farma's workers, identified only as
Iwan, on a local girl also employed by the factory.

"Iwan tried to rape the girl in the factory's compound but
failed.

"Shortly after that, the ashamed Elly reported the incident to
her family, who then rushed to the factory demanding for Iwan's
accountability," he said.

About 30 men and women claiming to be the victim's relatives
packed the factory's site, asking to meet Iwan and the company's
managers.

The meeting failed to settle the matter.

The news of the factory and its managers' unsatisfactory
response spread immediately to other parts of the village,
prompting the locals to convene and plan an attack, Aritonang
said.

"But the police thus far have yet to arrest the suspected
mastermind. An investigation by the Tangerang Police is
underway," he said.

In an attempt to prevent another attack, local security
authorities have deployed some 50 police and military personnel
in the factory compound, the officer added. (emf)