Foreign inmates, women moved after Bali prison riot

Feb 23, 2012, 11:58 GMT

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

The prison houses 1,000 inmates, including 60 foreigners, 120 women and 13 minors, said Wing Handoko, a local military spokesman.

'There are many agents provocateurs inside,' he said.

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

By the end of the day, 13 inmates had been moved to separate detention facilities in Bali, said Bambang Krisbanu, a Justice Ministry official.

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 prisoners 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.

Krisbanu said the Australians refused to be moved because they were not ready to adjust to a new environment.

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.