Foreign inmates, women to be moved after Bali prison riot

Feb 23, 2012, 6:47 GMT

Denpasar, Indonesia - Authorities on Indonesia's resort island of Bali were Thursday preparing to transfer foreign inmates, women and children from the main prison there after two nights of rioting.

The prison houses 60 foreigners, 120 women and 13 children, said Wing Handok, a local military spokesman.

'There are many agents provocateurs inside,' Handoko said. He did not say where the prisoners would be moved.

'We don't want them to be used as bargaining chips,' Handoko said, in an apparent reference to the 60 foreigners.

Two buses, two armoured vehicles and 10 trucks were on standby outside the Kerobokan prison.

Inmates went on a rampage late Tuesday, taking control of the prison and burning its offices.

Security forces stormed the prison on Wednesday morning and fired warning shots, injuring three people.

But on Wednesday night the inmates threw petrol bombs and rocks at police and soldiers on guard outside, leading the security personnel to fire warning shots.

The foreigners include 12 Australian inmates. Among them are convicted drug smugglers Schapelle Corby and nine youngsters known as the Bali Nine.

Police said the rioting followed the stabbing of a gang leader by another inmate Sunday. Followers of the gang leader retaliated by setting fire to the facility, the police chief said.

Prisoners also reportedly complained about overcrowding and unfair treatment.