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Residents, police say youth culture clash, not faiths
Residents of Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta, said religious differences were not the main reason behind Saturday's clash, as the Muslim-dominated kampungs had accepted students of other religions for more than a decade
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Residents of Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta, said religious differences were not the main reason behind Saturday's clash, as the Muslim-dominated kampungs had accepted students of other religions for more than a decade.
Nurhayati, who lives just five meters away from Setia campus, said she never had any problems with Setia students, and has shard a room with several of them for the past five years.
"So far, the students were fine and I myself had no problem with them. I just heard a student stole something from a resident here, but I don't know what it was or who the victim was," said Nurhayati, who has been living in the area for around 30 years.
When the clashes occurred, Nurhayati and her family chose to remain at home for safety and consequently they couldn't identify anyone involved. Some parts of her house had been damaged by stones in the incident, she said.
Following the clash, her two female flatmates had moved out Saturday, saying they did not want her family be targeted in future attacks.
"I am really concerned about them because this week they should have taken part in an examination," she said.
Some residents claimed they had problems with students' behavior.
Ana, whose parents have lived in the area for more than 28 years, say the students often hang around the area until midnight.
"It's not about their religion. It's more about their disturbing behavior. They often play loud music and hang around the area until midnight. It's a common sight, seeing a couple hang out at night," Ana said.
"We have tried to warn them, but they ignored it. We just want the campus to be relocated soon because there shouldn't be any campus inside a housing complex," she said.
A clash broke out Saturday between Setia students and locals after a student allegedly stole from a resident.
The school's female and male dormitories were heavily damaged during the clash, which resulted in some students and residents being injured and forcing students to evacuate the following day.
At least 21 residents and students were injured in the clash and subsequent evacuation.
Jakarta Police head of state security division Adj. Sr. Comr. Tornagogo Sihombing told reporters the school's location was the source of problem.
"The school is located in the middle of a (densely populated) kampung. There is surely some frictions (between residents)," he said.
On Monday, two Setia college students and lawyers reported the attack to the police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta.
The students, Efra Jinta and Octavianus Dapatalu, who got minor injuries told reporters they were attacked some hours before the evacuation.
"Both of us were hanging out near our dormitory building when a group of people carrying wooden sticks came and started to beat us," Efra, a freshman of the college, recounted while showing blue bruises on his right hand.
Lawyer Robert B. Keytimu told reporters a group of people had attacked another two male students, Gabriel Besi and Yopiter M. Besa who were subsequently treated at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) hospital in East Jakarta.
The students were attacked with sharp weapons during the evacuation.
"I was amazed police did not arrest any of the attackers even though the attack happened right in front of them," Robert said.
