16 people named as 'agitators'

16 people named as 'agitators'

JAKARTA (JP): The city police named yesterday 16 people as
suspected agitators of the mid-May riots.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang told journalists
the suspects were among the 36 people who had been wanted by the
police for their alleged role in instigating mobs to destroy and
burn and loot properties during the May 13 to May 15 unrest in
the capital.

"We arrested these 16 suspected agitators between July and
August based on the testimonies of 1,919 looters netted during
and after the riots," Aritonang said.

Of the sixteen suspects, three would be brought to trial soon
as their dossiers had been handed over to the prosecutor's
office, he said.

"The dossiers of the other suspects are still being prepared,"
the officer added.

Aritonang identified the suspects as Belek, Edi Siswanto,
Matsroji, Agustinus, Epon, Sukarman, Subur, Matsari, Teguh, Yadi,
Sofyan Arief, Sofran, Iwan Supriyatna, Ali Sofyan, Anton Medan
and Rizal.

Of the 16, only the last two have not been detained because
their relatives guaranteed they would not flee, he said.

The remaining suspects have all admitted the crimes, Aritonang
said.

Belek and Edi confessed to instigating the crowds to destroy
and torch the Matraman Police station in East Jakarta, he said.

Matsjori admitted his role in the looting and arson at Plaza
Sentral shopping center in Klender, East Jakarta, while Agustinus
and Epon owned up to burning the Pasar Rumput Police post in
South Jakarta, the officer said.

Duet Sukarman and Subur said they agitated crowds to rob and
destroy Bank BCA in Muara Karang, Kapuk, North Jakarta.

Matsari admitted that he led an angry mob to loot and set
ablaze the Naga shopping mall in Pondok Ungu in Bekasi and Teguh
confessed to similar offenses at properties along Jl. Margonda
Raya in Depok, Aritonang said.

Yadi, Ali and Sofyan Arief reportedly said they masterminded
the burning of the Megaria Police post in Central Jakarta.

Sofran and Iwan allegedly said they provoked people to destroy
the Mitsubishi show room on Jl. Raya Ciputat, South Jakarta.
(edt)