Banjarmasin riot trial begins<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Banjarmasin District Court began yesterday
\nto try 13 people suspected of involvement in a May 23 riot that
\nclaimed 123 lives.<\/p>\n
The session was closed to the public as most defendants were
\nminors, Antara reported. The 13, who were the first to be tried
\nfrom among 64 suspects, were split into two groups and tried
\nsimultaneously.<\/p>\n
The first suspect in front of the court was a 25 year-old man,
\nidentified only as Muk, who was charged with carrying a sickle on
\nJl. Samudra where rioters attacked the Lima Cahaya department
\nstore.<\/p>\n
The other 12 suspects were accused yesterday of looting the
\nDewi Murni shop in the Sudimampir subdistrict. They were caught
\nredhanded trying to breakdown a locked door to the building.<\/p>\n
On May 23, the last day of the 27-day election campaign, a
\nriot exploded when supporters from the government-backed Golkar
\nclashed with supporters of the Moslem-dominated United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP). Dozens of buildings were badly damaged
\nin the incident.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Zolly Rahmatullah cited article 12 of the 1951
\nEmergency Law that prohibits people from carrying sharp weapons
\nin public without a permit. The law carries a maximum 10 year
\nimprisonment penalty.<\/p>\n
A nervous and stammering Muk told the court he realized there
\nwas a riot when the Lima Cahaya department store in his
\nneighborhood caught fire. The street vendor admitted carrying
\nthe weapon but said it was only for self-protection.<\/p>\n
The court session was adjourned until July 9.<\/p>\n
The other 12 suspects were charged under article 363 of the
\nCriminal Code on theft. They were caught between 8 p.m. and 11
\np.m. on May 23.<\/p>\n
Judge B.F. Siregar declared the trial closed to the public as
\nmost of the suspects were under 16 years old.<\/p>\n
The 64 suspects are facing charges ranging from carrying
\nillegal weapons to looting.<\/p>\n
The rampage in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan,
\ncapped the most violent election campaign the country has ever
\nhad. All the provinces in Java had their share of bloody riots
\nduring the campaigning period.<\/p>\n
In the Banjarmasin riot, dozens of buildings, two churches, at
\nleast three schools and more than 70 vehicles were badly damaged
\nby rioters. The Mitra Plaza, Sudimampir and Lima Cahaya shopping
\nmalls and five other shopping centers were looted and set ablaze.<\/p>\n
One hundred and twenty people were trapped inside Mitra Plaza
\nand tragically died. The government branded most of the victims
\nrioters and looters.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation urged the government last
\nweek to retract the statement. They also demanded that an
\nindependent investigation be set up to help ensure the protection
\nof the victims' rights.<\/p>\n
\"The public's sense of security must be restored before they
\nwill have the courage to disclose information objectively on what
\nthey witnessed during the riot,\" the foundation urged in a
\nstatement signed by chairman Bambang Widjojanto and secretary
\nMunir. (35)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banjarmasin-riot-trial-begins-1447893297",
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