The 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina`s JOB.Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Police arrested 19 rioters who vandalized the offices and facilities and set fire to an oil well of the Pertamina-Medco Joint Operating Body (JOB) on Tiaka Island, Central Sulawesi on Monday afternoon.
"Thank God, we have arrested 19 rioters," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said on the sidelines of a fast-breaking dinner here on Monday evening.
He said the 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina`s JOB.
The 19 rioters are now being held at the Morowali police headquarters for further questioning and investigation, he said.
Police planned to take the 19 rioters to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters in Palu city for examinations and investigations.
"They are still in Morowali now, but I have ordered my subordinates to take them to Palu so that we can examine and investigate the incident safely and smoothly," the Central Sulawesi police chief said.
He called on the people in his jurisdiction, particularly in Morowali, not to follow their emotions in settling whatever problem they were facing.
"An emotional approach to any problem will cause serious damage to one`s self and others. So, Please avoid emotional approaches," he said.
Dewa said the angry mob had taken hostage three policemen and a military man. "But they were released before fast-breaking," he said.
In the meantime, Morowali Resort Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suhirman when contacted through his cellular phone said the angry mob pelted an oil well belonging to the consortium on Tiaka island with Molotov cocktails.
It was reported that the oil field belonging to the Pertamina - Medco Joint Operating Body was razed by fire.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
