Saleh to stand trial under tight security<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of East Java's mobile police officers
\nwill safeguard today's court session of the trial of Saleh, a
\nlocal Moslem at the center of the recent religious tension which
\nerupted into attacks on Situbondo churches.<\/p>\n
Provincial police chief Maj. Gen. H. Sumarsono said in the
\nEast Java capital of Surabaya Friday that the police will also
\nguard the Situbondo District Court with armored vehicles. The
\npolice will cooperate with the Brawijaya regional military
\nheadquarters to ensure order.<\/p>\n
In addition, the police have also appealed to ulemas and other
\ncommunity leaders to help control the people which are expected
\nto turn up in large numbers. The ulemas have also been asked to
\nforbid their santri (Islamic students) from attending the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Saleh is on trial for alleged blasphemy against Islam as well
\nas slander against the late K.H. As'ad Syamsul Arifin, a
\nrespected ulema in the small town of Situbondo. A mob of
\nthousands of people attending one of the court sessions became
\nenraged over what they perceived as a too-lenient sentence
\ndemanded for the defendant.<\/p>\n
They became incensed after unidentified people shouted that
\nSaleh was hiding in a church, and started on a rampage, setting
\nchurches ablaze. Five people were killed in the Oct. 10 violence.<\/p>\n
Provincial military spokesman Lt. Col. CHB. S. Soebagio was
\nquoted by Antara as suggesting on Saturday a limit to the number
\nof people allowed to attend the court session.<\/p>\n
In a related development, East Java ulemas called on Saturday
\nfor a thorough investigation into the violence. Hasyim Muzadi of
\nthe East Java chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's
\nlargest organization with its 30 million followers, said that
\nmere \"technical solutions\" to the problem were not enough.<\/p>\n
\"We agree with Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono that the
\nroots of the problem (should be traced) and solved,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hartono told local ulemas last Wednesday that everyone should
\nexamine the causes of the violence and seek ways to prevent a
\nreoccurrence. He said placing blame would only aggravate matters.<\/p>\n
Hasyim believed that at least three conditions helped trigger
\nthe violence: ignorance of religious teachings, social gaps and
\ninjustices. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saleh-to-stand-trial-under-tight-security-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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