Ulema denies inciting Pekalongan riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A Moslem ulema in Central Java has denied the
\naccusation that he incited last week's riots in the coastal town
\nof Pekalongan.<\/p>\n
Afifudin Musytari HB, the principal of The Holy Al-Furqon
\nMangkang Islamic boarding school in Semarang, said he had not
\nmeant to insult any political or ethnic groups when he addressed
\na gathering before the riots.<\/p>\n
"I did not mean to offend anyone or any group," he was quoted
\nby Antara as saying yesterday.<\/p>\n
Afifudin made the denial after lawyer Jawace Hafids reported
\nhim to the Semarang police on suspicion of making insults that
\nhad incited the riots, which lasted three days.<\/p>\n
The Pekalongan riots erupted after local government officials
\nremoved United Development Party (PPP) flags from the city's
\nstreets. They were replaced by Golkar flags.<\/p>\n
Angry supporters of the Moslem-oriented PPP set fire to a
\nstage to be used for a music show featuring Dangndut star Rhoma
\nIrama, a one-time PPP member who has crossed to Golkar.<\/p>\n
The violence continued until Wednesday. About 60 shops
\nbelonging to ethnic Chinese were wrecked and looted. Several
\npeople were reportedly injured.<\/p>\n
PPP officials have said they suspect that several ulemas in
\nCentral Java incited the riots with their inflammatory preaches
\ntargeting election contestants and certain groups.<\/p>\n
When filing his complaint with the police, Jawade submitted a
\ncassette recording of Afifudin's speech delivered at the
\nNahdlatul Ulama's office in Jenggot, southern Pekalongan, on
\nMarch 15.<\/p>\n
Jawade, a deputy chief of the Central Java chapter of the
\nNational Youths Committee, an affiliate of Golkar, said in his
\nreport to police that, as a Moslem, he was offended by Afifudin's
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
Central Java police spokesman Lt. Col. Bardja said the
\nauthorities needed a day or two to study Jawade's complaint
\nbefore they decided a course of action.<\/p>\n
Bardja said the police would summon Afifudin, Jawade and
\nseveral witnesses.<\/p>\n
Afifudin is scheduled to appear before police investigators in
\nSemarang on Monday.<\/p>\n
The spokesman for Central Java's Diponegoro military command,
\nLt. Col. Sugeng Suryanto, said the authorities would seek more
\nevidence before arresting the five people they suspect of
\ninciting the riots.<\/p>\n
"Their identities are already in our hands. We hope we can
\ncatch them and announce their names soon," he said.<\/p>\n
The culprits, he said, were identified during last week's
\nmeeting between local government officials, Moslem leaders,
\nmilitary officers and representatives of political organizations.
\n(pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ulema-denies-inciting-pekalongan-riots-1447893297",
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