The rioting in the over-capacity correctional institution on Thursday in Medan left five people dead and caused 240 inmates to escape.
"I wait for respond and reaction time from the central and regional government but it comes late. There is no official statement ten hours after riot occurs," President Yudhoyono said when opening a limited meeting at Halim Perdana Kusuma airport here on Saturday to discuss the handling of the riot, and the skyrocketing price of beef.
According to the president, the official statement was necessary because it could avoid an impression that the government was ignorant.
Therefore, soon after arriving from West Nusa Tenggara for a working visit, the head of state immediately gathered a number of related ministers to discuss the matters.
On the occasion the president admired Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin who had decided to leave for Medan to obtain first hand information about the incident.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said in a press conference here on Friday that the president had ordered an investigation into the rioting in the Tanjung Gusta prison.
"The President has ordered an in-depth investigation to establish the motive behind the rioting at the Tanjung Gusta correctional facility. National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo himself has appointed any of his officers to conduct the in-depth investigation," Djoko Suyanto said.
At a coordination meeting held earlier in the day to discuss the handling of the rioting case, the government decided to remove some of inmates to the closest prisons, he said.
"Because the prison is overcapacity, Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana has been asked to remove some of the inmates to other correctional facilities," he said.
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
