Tasikmalaya riot claims three lives<\/p>\n
By MMI Ahyani<\/p>\n
TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Three people were found dead
\nyesterday, casualties of the rioting that erupted Thursday over
\nalleged brutality by police against residents but which later
\ndeveloped into racist and sectarian violence.<\/p>\n
Commander of the Siliwangi military command Maj. Gen. Tayo
\nTarmadi was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday there were no
\ncasualties in the incident. Other news agencies reported two
\ndeaths, while sources told The Jakarta Post that three bodies had
\nbeen found.<\/p>\n
One of the victims was a woman of Chinese descent, Giok Ie
\nWie, 45, whose charred body was found in the rubble of her
\nleather shop on Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa. Another victim was a
\nmale rioter who fell from a speeding truck, and the third was a
\nwoman; the identities of two of the victims have yet to be
\nestablished.<\/p>\n
Tayo called on the town's residents yesterday to maintain calm
\nand not be provoked by rumors. Accompanied by chief of West Java
\npolice Maj. Gen. Nana Permana and leader of the Condong Islamic
\nboarding school, KH Makmun, Tayo nevertheless warned against
\nfurther attempts at unrest.<\/p>\n
Speaking also in his capacity as chairman of the West Java
\noffice of the security agency Bakorstanasda, Tayo said he would
\ntake firm action against anyone committing abuse or vandalism.<\/p>\n
"Please remember the destruction that occurred in
\nTasikmalaya...was not committed by those from the pesantren
\n(Islamic boarding schools) because I believe the residents are
\npeople of faith," he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Dozens of factories, at least three churches, a school, at
\nleast three major department stores, dozens of smaller shops and
\nscores of cars and other vehicles were either burnt or damaged in
\nthe violence that broke out Thursday afternoon and lasted well
\ninto yesterday afternoon. It was sparked by local pesantren
\nstudents protesting alleged mistreatment by police of their
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
Separately, in Jakarta, President Soeharto warned society
\nagainst people attempting to trigger unrest among religious
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Addressing thousands of members of the Armed Forces and civil
\nservants at their joint celebration of Christmas at Jakarta
\nConvention Center last night, Soeharto called for self-restraint
\nwhen facing sensitive religious issues.<\/p>\n
"Religious communities need to exercise self-restraint, by
\navoiding activities which may disturb people of other faiths...or
\nhurt them," he said.<\/p>\n
Uneasy calm returned to the city yesterday afternoon, although
\nviolence spread to neighboring districts. The district of Ciawi,
\nlocated 20 kilometers northwest of here, and the Cilawu district,
\nsaw at least five shops and six trucks burnt by rioters.<\/p>\n
Most of the 5,000 residents of Chinese descent in Tasikmalaya,
\nwhose population is 1.6 million, are being sheltered and guarded
\nby security officers in various government offices.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, looters made their way through half-burnt and
\ndamaged shops and factories, especially in the commercial center
\nof Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa. Some residents, however, said the
\nlooters were not pesantren students.<\/p>\n
"Those looters are criminals," a resident said.<\/p>\n
Troops from Siliwangi military command have rounded up 160
\npeople, mostly youths caught looting. One of those detained was a
\nsixth-grade elementary school student. Police have detained
\nanother 24 people.<\/p>\n
"The rest were residents tempted into looting. Some of the
\nothers are repeat offenders," Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi said.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday afternoon, troops from six battalions from the
\nSiliwangi military command and the Army Strategic Command
\n(Kostrad) were still deployed. Almost every corner and turn in
\nthe city was guarded by a group of five or six men.<\/p>\n
Commander of the Tarumanegara local military resort Col. M.
\nYasin, in a meeting with West Java Governor R. Nuriana earlier
\nyesterday, said he was concerned the unrest could spread even
\nfurther, for instance to Garut, some 50 kilometers west of
\nTasikmalaya.<\/p>\n
He also said his people had detained one person found handing
\nout leaflets instigating people to take to the streets. As of
\nyesterday afternoon, Garut was calm, albeit tense.<\/p>\n
The administration started clearing debris from the city right
\nafter the Friday midday prayer. Dozens of street sweepers and
\ngarbage trucks were deployed on the streets where smoke was still
\nbillowing from burnt buildings.<\/p>\n
"The city administration only has two fire trucks," said Tayo
\nwhen asked why the authorities did not try to extinguish the
\nfires when the rioting began.<\/p>\n
Tasikmalaya Regent Suljana Wirata told the Post he hoped the
\ncity would soon recover from the shock so that normal activities
\ncould resume Monday.<\/p>\n
The Post counted at least 75 shops in the first kilometer of
\nthe two-kilometer Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa which had been
\ndestroyed, 30 of them were burnt.<\/p>\n
The city was still sealed off to incoming traffic. Approaching
\nvehicles were all parked in the Cikoneng village.<\/p>\n
Comment -- Page 2<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tasikmalaya-riot-claims-three-lives-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }