Gangster’s paradise: Men carry machetes during a clash between two rival gangs outside the South Jakarta District Court on Jl. Ampera Raya on Wednesday. Three people were reportedly killed in the brawl.JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

The fight between ethnic gangs from Flores and Ambon broke out around midday before the third trial hearing into a brawl at the upscale Blowfish Kitchen and Bar in April in which two people were killed.

The presence of 286 police officers there to provide security, including at the high-profile trial of former National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji failed to deter the gangs.

Dozens of members from both groups shouted at each other while throwing rocks and pointing machetes and blades in front of the court. Some were also seen firing homemade rifles during the brawl.

After the clash broke out, the street was sealed off with shops, restaurants and other businesses quickly closed while police dispatched more personnel to the area.

Julie Lacey, a witness who visited a nearby restaurant, said the restaurant manager shut his premises for an hour and patrons could only leave at 1:30 p.m. when the situation was calm.

“There weren’t many police officers on the street. Some even ran away,” she said.

The National Police released a statement saying that the Ambonese group, John Kei, were already at the court to attend the hearing when the Flores group arrived carrying sharp weapons and guns.

Kamari, the court’s security coordinator, said the Flores gang carried long sharp weapons, but added that he did not know that the other gang that was already at the court was also carrying weapons.

“We searched all visitors to the trial sessions,” he said.

Witnesses said several men also took sharp weapons and guns from parked cars near the court when the gangs attacked.

The police identified the dead as Fredrik Phob Letlet, Agustinus Thornazoa and Saefuddin.

“Three men involved in the brawl were shot and/or hacked to death,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. 0Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said.

Police said Agustinus was from the Ambonese gang and was a debt collector. They also suspect Saefuddin was one of the bus drivers.

South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Gatot Eddy Pramono and two other officers were also injured.

“We are still investigating this case. We have secured all crime scene evidence such as a bullet shell casing,” Boy said.

Police have questioned one man after the brawl but have yet to determine his involvement in the fight.

Karnos Lolo and Bernardus Malela are the two defendants charged in the deadly bar brawl that took place in April. Their trial had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Fights also broke out in front of a holding cell just prior to the second hearing of the men’s trial last week. Guards fired warning shots then.

Kamari said the court planned to move the venue of the next hearing to deter similar incidents.

“The court and the South Jakarta Police will discuss moving the trial venue to police headquarters,” he said, adding that all sessions at the court were cancelled after Wednesday’s incident.

Street brawls in the capital have increased in both intensity and frequency lately.

In April, a deadly riot broke out when thousands of public order officers clashed with devotees of a monument honoring historical Muslim cleric Mbah Priuk, believed to be interred in Koja, North Jakarta.

The incident claimed the lives of three public order officers, with authorities blaming several organizations including the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for the clash.

More than 200 people were also injured in the incident, the worst outbreak of violence in the capital since the 1998 riots that brought down Indonesian strongman Soeharto. (ipa)

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