Rioting in Banggai, Four Dead
Thursday, 01 March, 2007 | 16:38 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banggai: Clashes between the police and residents of Banggai City—the temporary capital city of the Banggai Islands Regency, Central Sulawesi—resulted in the deaths of four civilians, with 14 people and six police officers injured as well as damage to a house.

During the clashed that took place after 1pm WIT (Central Indonesian Time) yesterday (28/2), three people were shot by the police and one was suspected of having been tortured by the police.

The clashes started when the police forced residents to open up several sealed office buildings in Banggai City, which has been done since Monday (19/2).

Due to the sealing of theseoffice, civil servants and teachers in Banggai Regency have not received their February salaries.

As residents insisted not opening the sealed offices, the police used force.

The clashes then began and residents started throwing stones at the police.

After some time they blocked access to the Banggai Sector Police station.

Under pressure, the police fired and some people were killed: Junaid, Abah, Ridwan and one other who has not yet been identified.

The police have disagreed that they committed acts of violence against people who were holding a rally.

“What the police officers did was in line with the laid -downprocedures,” said Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto, Head of Public Relations at the National Police HQ, Jakarta yesterday.

According to him, the police were forced to become involved in the clashes because the crowds were out of control.

The sealing of the offices of the regent, services and Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) was done by residents because Banggai Islands Regent, Irianto Malinggong, shifted regional budget discussions from Banggai City to Salakan City.

They were concern that the shifting would result in most of the budget going to Salakan, which is about to become the new Banggai Islands’ capital city.

Law No. 51/1999 in fact stated that Banggai City is only a temporary capital city.

“I only acted upon the law to transfer the Banggai Islands’ capital from Banggai to Salakan,” said Irianto.

Brig. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, the Central Sulawesi Police Chief, has sent two Mobile Brigade platoons to strengthen the security personnel in Banggai City.

The troops left at 4pm yesterday.

“We will still maintain security in Banggai. We won’t allow people to become anarchistic,” he said firmly.

Darlis and Yophiandi