Riot masterminds 'may know sociology'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There is a possibility that those responsible
\nfor instigating the riots have a certain degree of knowledge of
\nsociology, and used this to stir up chaos, Minister of Justice
\nMuladi said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said that this knowledge had helped to identify which areas
\nwere easily provoked. Muladi was commenting in response to
\nquestions on why \"provocateurs\", while often accused of being
\nbehind recent riots, were never revealed.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know (why they have not been revealed), but it is
\nclear that if they do exist, there must be an undercover
\noperation,\" he said before a cabinet meeting, adding that the
\nmysterious parties seemed to be \"untouchables\".<\/p>\n
\"The movement is subversive -- it is underground ... and is in
\npossession of certain knowledge.\" This would be \"knowledge of
\nsociology and anthropology (to identify) which areas are easily
\nprovoked -- areas which are diverse in ethnicity, religion, and
\nrace. It's quite evident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muladi had earlier said that the government should take
\nseriously the statements of people such as Muslim leader
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, who the minister said was well informed.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, had once said that displeased
\nloyalists of former president Soeharto were likely to be behind
\nthe riots. He visited Soeharto on Tuesday to ask him to use his
\ninfluence to stop the unrest created by his followers.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, another influential Muslim leader, had said
\nprovocateurs had to be well financed, sophisticated, well trained
\nand well organized to be able to spread unrest across the
\narchipelago.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the chief of the National Police detectives for
\ngeneral crimes unit, Col. Makbul Padmanagara, said he had visited
\nAbdurrahman's South Jakarta home to clarify his statements with
\nthree other detectives.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he was \"glad to help\" and also urged that the
\ngovernment not cover up the ongoing unrest in Maluku province.<\/p>\n
\"Horrible things have happened there and it has to stop.\" The
\nlatest death toll from police is 54, but details and other
\nreports of deaths remain unconfirmed.<\/p>\n
Detective Makbul said that \"police have enough information
\nfrom Gus Dur\", which he said would be used to help the
\ninvestigation into the Ambon riots.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
\nand Security Faisal Tandjung said some leads had been found
\nregarding the involvement of provocateurs in recent riots.<\/p>\n
\"We already have lists of names of provocateurs,\" Faisal said,
\nbut failed to give details. Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto earlier said the
\nriots in Ambon were similar to others with religious overtones
\nsuch as in Jakarta and Kupang.<\/p>\n
Faisal also blamed the media for sensationalist reporting.<\/p>\n
\"We are doing the best we can by deploying security forces.
\nWhat more guarantee do you want? We will enforce the law and take
\nfirm action. Officers will stick to the presumption of
\ninnocence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muladi had also reiterated that the government would no longer
\nuse the subversion law, which the government has said would be
\nscrapped, and that \"preventive detention\", such as that conducted
\nagainst alleged communists in the past, was no longer an option.<\/p>\n
In democracy, he said, the law should be upheld. (edt\/emf)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riot-masterminds-may-know-sociology-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }