Certain group suspected of causing national instability<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung insisted
\nSaturday a certain group engineered riots in Tasikmalaya, West
\nJava and Sanggau Ledo, West Kalimantan in order to disrupt
\nnational stability.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Medan, North Sumatra, at the golden anniversary
\ncelebration of the daily newspaper, Waspada, Feisal said the
\ngroup had never reached its goal, thanks to the nation's solid
\nresilience.<\/p>\n
\"Let's thank God and be proud of the resilience that we have
\nmaintained for such a long time,\" Feisal was quoted as saying by
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
\"Development has given us a strong foundation as a nation,\"
\nFeisal told some 1,000 attendants, who included local government
\nofficials, businesspeople and sports figures.<\/p>\n
The incident exploded less than a week after angry mobs looted
\nshops, set fire to churches, factories and police posts in
\nTasikmalaya, following the bashing of three Islamic boarding
\nschool teachers by police officers. Four people were killed in
\nthe outbreak.<\/p>\n
The riots followed the Oct. 10 riot in Situbondo, East Java,
\nwhere five people were killed and dozens of worship houses were
\neither burnt or damaged. A total of 53 people went on trial for
\neither taking part in the attack or for instigating the mass.<\/p>\n
Feisal said at the Supreme Court's annual gathering in
\nYogyakarta last Monday the authorities had identified the
\nmastermind of the first two riots. Evidence was being collected
\nto arrest the culprit, Feisal said.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights agreed with Feisal,
\naccusing a \"third party\" of organizing the riots in a statement
\nissued after investigations into the incidents finished last
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Feisal also reiterated the Armed Forces' commitment to take
\nstrict measures against anyone causing unrest in the lead up to
\nthe 1997 general election.<\/p>\n
\"The Armed Forces have already made both direct and indirect
\npreparations to ensure the election will run safely,\" Feisal
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"A quality election depends on whether the public exercise
\ntheir political right without fear,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The general election, the sixth since 1971, will take place on
\nMay 29.<\/p>\n
Feisal denied the general election was a mere routine or a
\npolitical procession. \"It is the substance of democratic
\npractices, in which the people make their political choice,\"
\nFeisal said. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/certain-group-suspected-of-causing-national-instability-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}