Nine Hours in Binjai

The worst clash yet between the police and the military—and the most costly in terms of lives lost.

October 8, 2002

The M-16's, mortars, and grenade launchers had already been returned to headquarters. There were no longer any soldiers prepped for battle on the streets. Nevertheless, Binjai, a city located about 40 kilometers west of Medan, had not fully recovered. Up until the end of last week, the police headquarters which had been destroyed by fire was still surrounded by a 1-meter-high barbed-wire fence. No traffic police were to be seen on the streets.

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