Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandar lampung – An angry crowd burned down a police station in Pesawaran regency, Lampung, at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, gutting the building and all its contents, charring documents and several motorcycles parked in its compound.
Aside from damaging the police office, the group, which was believed to have come from two conflicting villages – Hanurabrak and Bandar – in Padangcermin district, also opened up detention rooms to free all the detainees.
The actions of the group, which was involved in a clash with another group of youths, could not be thwarted because the police station was guarded by only three personnel.
The chaos started at 10 p.m. on Monday and lasted until midnight, with police officers from South Lampung Police and Marines only being deployed at 2 a.m., even though the marine headquarters was located only 10 kilometers from the incident.
Lampung Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sulistyaningsih said that the police had detained a man who was believed to have provoked the burning incident and questioned dozens of witnesses who were present at the site.
"The provocateur, identified as Wardana, has been named a suspect. The number of suspects will likely increase, possibly to over 10 people," Sulistyaningsih said on Tuesday.
The police believed that the incident was sparked by the attackers' dissatisfaction with the settlement of a clash involving two groups of youths from the two conflicting villages in June.
"They had actually agreed to make peace. However, this settlement likely led to dissatisfaction and sparked the chaos," she said. Sulistyaningsih added that the Lampung Police had deployed two companies of officers to help maintain security. The case was handled by South Lampung Police officers, she said.
Sulistyaningsih's remarks were approved by National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, who said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the police office had been a scapegoat for the anger of two groups of people who had been clashing since June.
"It all started early in June when the local police were accidentally involved in a conflict between locals residents of two different ethnicities," he said. "Our members tried to reconcile both groups, but they failed as the groups started to attack one another again in July."
"We tried to mediate again. With public figures and youth community groups in the area, we discussed making an official written pact of peace. However, the people accused us of partiality and decided to take over the situation [and burned down one sectoral headquarters]," Agus said.
Additionally, eight vehicles were also damaged during the assault, while two female prisoners escaped.
The burning of police office buildings has frequently taken place in Lampung. Last January Gedongaji Police post in Tulangbawang regency, for example, was burned down by a large group. The incident was sparked by the death of a resident who was shot and killed by the police.
Lampung Police data shows that between 2009 and 2012 more than 10 police offices in Lampung had been burned by mass groups. Most of them took place in East Lampung, with the largest portion being sparked by dissatisfaction on the part of local residents against the way police settled cases.
Other police station burnings
Bima, NTB, Dec. 24, 2011: Lambu police station destroyed by protesters demanding the revocation of a mining company permit.
Gorontalo, April 23, 2012: A group of unidentified people torched Sumalata Police precinct in North Gorontalo. The fire was allegedly related to clash between police and army.
Bangka-Belitung, June 24, 2012: Pangkal Pinang Police station burned down by an unidentified group attacks apparently disappointed with the police's actions.