Suspects arrested over Flores riot<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna and Jacob Herin, The Jakarta Post, Kupang\/Flores<\/p>\n
Police have arrested three men who took part in a riot in which a
\ncourthouse and a prosecutor's office were torched on Flores, East
\nNusa Tenggara, after a priest was convicted of libel.<\/p>\n
The three suspects, identified as Yohanis Sabon, Agustinus
\nDiaz and Wem, were taken into custody during a raid by a joint
\npolice and military force.<\/p>\n
"The three are being questioned by police. But it remains
\nunclear if they are the masterminds of the violence or not," said
\na police officer at the Larantuka Police headquarters in East
\nFlores.<\/p>\n
He said the suspects had admitted taking part in the rioting.<\/p>\n
The number of arrests was expected to climb as police
\ncontinued their investigation.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people took to the streets of Larantuka, a mainly
\nCatholic town, on Saturday after judges found Frans Amanue guilty
\nof defaming the local regent, Felix Fernandez by labeling him
\ncorrupt.<\/p>\n
The judges sentenced the priest to two months in jail,
\nsuspended for five months -- meaning he will not go to prison
\nunless he reoffends within the next five months.<\/p>\n
The protest quickly turned violent with an angry mob setting
\nfire to the Larantuka District Court and the town's prosecutor's
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Not casualties were reported but dozens of judges, prosecutors
\nand other officials and their family members had to flee the
\ntown.<\/p>\n
They were still being guarded by police officers on Monday.<\/p>\n
Larantuka chief Judge Wayan Suparta and chief prosecutor Katar
\nGinting were among those under security protection at the diocese
\nof Bishop Mgr. Fransiskus Kopong Kung.<\/p>\n
"They do not yet dare go out to return to work because they
\nare afraid of the locals. They will stay at the diocese for an
\nindefinite period," an unnamed police officer said.<\/p>\n
Priest Gabriel Unto da Silva, from Maumere district, appealed
\nto all church members to stay calm and expressed regret over the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Those involved in the burning should be held responsible, he
\nsaid. "Don't run away from the reality. If you don't want to be
\nresponsible, why did you bring people to gather at the Larantuka
\nDistrict Court."<\/p>\n
Another local Christian leader, Thomas Aquino Pareira, also
\nregretted the incident apparently blamed on supporters of the
\npriest.<\/p>\n
East Flores legislative council speaker Lambertus Tulen Hajon
\nsaid councillors will soon convene to hear explanations from the
\nregent about the violent protest.<\/p>\n
Regent Felix said he would not attend the meeting and that
\nthere was no need for him to give any clarification, saying the
\nviolence was an affair for police to deal with.<\/p>\n
"It is nothing to do with politics," he added.<\/p>\n
He said that should local people want peace in East Flores,
\nthey should avoid anarchy, spreading slander and hatred. "Whoever
\nhe is should take responsibility for what he has done."<\/p>\n
Felix was apparently referring to the convicted priest.<\/p>\n
Saturday's violence caused an estimated Rp 5 billion
\n(US$588,235) in losses to the state, according to local
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
To restore peace in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara Police chief
\nBrig. Gen. Edward Aritonang was in the violence-hit town on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Police sent scores of Mobile Brigade police officers to
\nLarantuka to help local security forces secure the town.<\/p>",
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