Violence hits Samarinda

JAKARTA: A riot broke out in the Samarinda capital of East Kalimantan on Wednesday, three days after over 1,000 public transportation drivers took to the streets to protest high prices of vehicle spare parts.

Antara reported no casualties, but it said police had rounded up 26 people for pelting several automobile spare-parts shops.

Samarinda police chief Lt. Col. Tomy Sagiman said those detained were "supporters" of the protesting motorists. The news agency said the stone-pelting incident last from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m.. No details were provided on the number of shops damaged. Only the spare-parts shops were targeted.

Samarinda military chief Col. Rudy Landung said the situation was under control in the town of 450,000 people.

However, he warned residents to stay alert and promote community security patrols. "I expect people to remain calm because there is a possibility that some irresponsible parties will attempt to make things worse," he was quoted as saying.

Landung also said security apparatus had managed to stop several shop-looting attempts and blamed the violence on "provocateurs". Several automobile spare-parts shops on Jl. Dr. Soetomo were reportedly forced to give their goods to an angry mob.

"They threatened to burn our shop if we didn't lower the (goods) prices," a shop owner was quoted as saying. (aan)