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Police say Kosambi clash `not ethnic'
City police have detained five men for questioning following a riot in the Duri Kosambi subdistrict, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, that led to the stabbing to death of a high-profile member of the Betawi People's Communication Forum (Forkabi) and a large fire on Sunday night
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ity police have detained five men for questioning following a riot in the Duri Kosambi subdistrict, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, that led to the stabbing to death of a high-profile member of the Betawi People's Communication Forum (Forkabi) and a large fire on Sunday night.
"We haven't named them as suspects yet, as they're still being investigated as witnesses," chief detective Sr. Comr. Idham Azis told The Jakarta Post Monday.
Police and authorities denied that the deadly clash was related to prolonged tension between the Betawi group and Madurese residents. "Personal motives are behind this case; no ethnic elements are involved in the riot," West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Kamil Razak claimed.
Endid Mawardi, the chief of the Forkabi's Cipondoh branch, was trying to stop an altercation between his group and opponents but ended up dead after being stabbed in the back of his neck, City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said.
The fatal clash was reportedly triggered by a minor traffic accident in which a truck, which belonged to a Duri Kosambi resident, grazed a Honda Jazz, around 5 p.m. Both drivers became involved in a row.
Two hours later, more than 10 people who were believed to be associates of the Honda Jazz driver came to the accident scene at Duri Kosambi and launched an attack, leaving Endin dead.
Hours later, a riot broke out, as hundreds of people were seen burning down semi-permanent houses and some kiosks of Madurese people near the accident scene.
West Jakarta Police chief Kamil said the detainees were not members of Forkabi, affiliated to the Betawi Rempug group, which is sometimes associated with vigilante style "maintaining of order" in Jakarta.
"Around 200 police officers from the City Police, mobile brigade, and the West Jakarta police precinct are now deployed to secure Endin's residence," Kamil said, adding that the deployment was also to prevent possible retaliation.
The Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace urged the city administration to establish a social dispute mechanism at grassroots level to prevent further riots from happening and being politicized.
"Law enforcement authorities, for instance, should have a more bottom-up approach when dealing with social disputes," Hendardi, director of Setara, said, adding that the riot in Duri Kosambi could have been prevented had law enforcers been able to look at local social conflicts and reduce gangsterism.
Meanwhile, West Jakarta Mayor Djoko Ramadhan said that the situation in Duri Kosambi had improved. "A peace agreement was signed on Monday, saying that both parties involved in the riot would settle further conflicts peacefully, without bringing in any social or ethnic parties," he said.
According to the City Fire Department, as many as 35 houses or kiosks made of plywood, seven private cars, and five motorcycles on Jl. Lingkar Luar Cengkareng Barat were set ablaze by the rioters, leaving more than 140 people homeless and material losses estimated at Rp 1.5 billion (US$163,500).
The West Jakarta Fire Department deployed 17 fire engines to the scene.
The fire trucks arrived 10 minutes after the fire started at 00:05 a.m Monday and had only managed to extinguish the fire 13 hours later, city fire department officer Bambang told the Post. (tsy)
