Alleged rioters to stand trial

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The provincial police here have submitted the dossiers of 28 suspects involved in recent riots to a district prosecutors' office.

The police chief, Brig. Gen. Sukandri, said the suspects were among some 48 people under detention following the Jan. 17-Jan. 19 unrest that resulted in 14 churches and 150 houses being burned or attacked.

"They will be charged with provoking the riots or looting," Sukandri said as quoted by Antara.

He added that the trials were originally scheduled to begin later this month, but had been delayed until March due to election of regents across the province.

Some 1,650 people who fled their homes during the rioting remain in refugee camps. Governor Harun Al Rasyid said on Monday that another 8,000 displaced people had returned home. (amd)