- ANTARA/ Nyoman Budhiana
VIVAnews – Three terrifying nights in Kerobokan Penitentiary started on Tuesday, Feb 21, when the inmates went wild and set fire that burned down the office building of the largest prison in Bali. The front part of the building is completely burned down and badly damaged. Three inmates were injured.
On the second night, the inmates continued their fight even without electricity. They felt that the officers ignored their demands. The prisoners decided to fight the officers not only with stones, but also with Molotov cocktails.
On Thursday night, the situation has eased off. However, the joint forces of TNI and Police continued their watch. The evacuation of foreign and female inmates has been completed. The officers worried that these inmates would be used as hostages.
Kodam IX/Udayana spokesperson, Colonel. Arm. Wing Handoko, acknowledged that even though there are no casualties, nothing worse has ever happened in Kerobokan.
“Yes, this case is the worst riot that ever happened in Kerobokan,” he said to VIVAnews, Thursday night.
The clash mainly involved the prisoners and the officers, "especially the prison guards,” he added.
Wing explained that the riot happened because of the inmates’ accumulation of frustration towards the prison guards. “There’s injustice, authoritarian attitude, also extortion. All of these issues became the trigger,” he added.
“We need to reform the prison, not just in Kerobokan, but the condition is the same all over Indonesia,” he said.
In a different setting, the Security Chief of Kerobokan Penitentiary, Anang, was not willing to make any comments about the condition at the prison. Today, the Ministry of Justice & Human Rights has announced that it will replace the Security Chief of Kerobokan Penitentiary.
Established Since 1979
Built in 1979, Kerobokan Penitentiary, which was designed to contain 300 prisoners, now contains 1,030 inmates.
The Class IIA prison is famous for being the place for prisoners with serious crimes. The list includes “the marijuana queen” Schapelle Corby; Bali bombing trio -- Amrozi, Imam Samudra; Bali Nine gang, Christopher Parnell who smuggled hashish in 1985.
On early Saturday, June 25, 2011, BNN officers went looking for an inmate at the Kerobokan Penitentiary, named Riyadi, who was involved in a drug network following the arrest of one person in Jakarta. Riyadi’s fellow inmates could not accept the decision.
Inevitably, most prisoners set out unrest. Around 500 inmates from 5 buildings attacked the BNN team and managed to damage the 5 buildings, namely Wisma Cempaka, Wisma Edelwis, Kamboja, Kebana and Kendang Harum.
The inmates continued to lunge out of the building and managed to destroy other buildings such as the canteen, mosque and the Warden’s office. They also managed to set fire on several documents. In the incident, the Warden and BNN Public Relations were beaten by the inmates.
