Ex-convict denies instigating riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An ex-convict has denied an allegation made by
\nsecurity forces that he was one of the organizers of the violent
\nmid-May riots, which claimed thousands of lives and caused huge
\nmaterial losses.<\/p>\n
Anton Medan, an Indonesian of Chinese descent who is now a
\nMoslem preacher, said the allegation was totally groundless and
\nhis accusers were just looking for an easy target as a scapegoat.<\/p>\n
"It's slander!" Anton told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.<\/p>\n
According to the former hoodlum, he was among a crowd along
\nJl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta during the riot, but only to
\ncall on people not to destroy shops and other buildings.<\/p>\n
"I did that because I am a preacher," he said.<\/p>\n
Thanks to his calls, he said, the mobs only stoned property
\nand did not set any buildings on fire.<\/p>\n
Anton, who served time in jail for a series of crimes, also
\nvowed that he did not know any of the rioters.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Military Police summoned him on Friday and asked
\nhim to explain why he was among the crowds during the riots. He
\nsaid he decided to meet the request at the suggestion of his
\nlawyers from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
"We will meet a second summon if there is one because we will
\nbe more ready for it," Anton said.<\/p>\n
He said he had never thought about organizing people, such as
\nhoodlums, to engineer a riot only to see many ethnic Chinese,
\nlike himself, become victims.<\/p>\n
Anton said he and several riot victims, mostly traders,
\nvisited the National Commission on Human Rights on May 29,
\nblasting the rioters.<\/p>\n
"How could I then be accused of organizing the riots?" he
\nqueried.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves the Big Family of Indonesians of Chinese
\nDescent, Anton and the traders also complained to the commission
\nabout the lack of security during the unrest.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin indicated
\non June 13 that the military was investigating a former hoodlum
\nunder suspicion of organizing a group of rioters.<\/p>\n
Sjafrie said the unrest was spontaneous, but some of the riots
\nwere sporadically organized by small groups in certain areas in
\nGreater Jakarta. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-convict-denies-instigating-riots-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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