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)