Military appeals for calm after riot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Java military command yesterday
\nappealed to people in Pekalongan for calm after the town was
\nrocked by communal violence the previous night.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Djoko Subroto, the chief of staff of the Diponegoro
\nMilitary Command, specifically appealed to the Moslem community
\nfor restraint, according to an advance report by the Semarang-
\nbased Suara Merdeka daily, made available to The Jakarta Post
\nlast night.<\/p>\n
"Do not be easily provoked by malicious rumors, fanned by
\ncertain irresponsible parties, which are intended to divide the
\nunity of the people," Brig. Gen. Djoko said.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said many shops were destroyed and several cars
\nbecame the target of people's anger during the rampage on
\nWednesday night. The shops were located along Jl. Hayam Wuruk,
\nJl. K.H. Mansyur, Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Kartini and Jl. Dr. Wahidin,
\nthe witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Djoko did not say whether there were any casualties
\nin the incident.<\/p>\n
The authorities quickly moved in that same night to quell the
\nviolence, he said, adding that the military made no arrests.<\/p>\n
He explained that the violence started as a misunderstanding
\nthat was exploited by certain parties. "Their intention is clear.
\nTo sow disunity and stir unrest."<\/p>\n
He avoided naming any particular religion or ethnic group.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Djoko said a man, who later turned out to be
\nmentally ill, was seen on Wednesday morning in the street abusing
\nthe holy book of a certain religion.<\/p>\n
"It was not intended to insult the particular religion. He was
\nof unsound mind and his family was not aware of his behavior,"
\nDjoko said, adding that the man had been treated at a mental
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
But rumors quickly spread across town that the man had
\ninsulted the religion.<\/p>\n
This stirred people's anger and led to rampage in the evening.<\/p>\n
Djoko said he had met with the leaders of the provincial
\nchapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council and asked for their help
\nto calm the people and explain the true situation. (emb\/31)<\/p>",
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