A massive demolition of 1,720 makeshift houses, where some 10,000 residents lived, that were built on private land owned by PT Cakra Wira Bumi Mandala in Jembatan Besi, Tambora, West Jakarta, turned into a riot on Tuesday.
The riot started at around 8:30 a.m., when some 1,500 policemen, military personnel and city public order officers, assisted by about 2,000 laborers hired by the land owner, tried to tear down the houses.
Residents were outraged and fought back especially at the hired laborers. Both parties were seen carrying sharp weapons and throwing rocks and sharpened bamboo sticks at each other.
Riot police then moved in to quell the rioters by firing tear gas canisters which landed on the residents roofs.
The situation came under control after the deputy chief of West Jakarta Police, Adj. Comr. Tejo Subagio, negotiated with the residents.
An officer from the city public order agency and a resident were injured in the clash and sent to Sumber Waras hospital in West Jakarta.
The clash caused heavy traffic congestion on Jl. Prof. Dr. Latumeten, which also caused heavy traffic on the inner city toll road and the Jakarta-Tangerang toll road. -- JP
