Anton denies police accusations on riots

JAKARTA (JP): Dressed in black suit, scarf and Moslem cap, ex- convict-turned-Moslem preacher Anton Medan responded to a second police summons yesterday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters after a five-and-a-half hour interrogation at city police headquarters, Anton, alias M. Ramdhan Effendy, said he denied all allegations against him concerning the mid-May riots.

"I saw from the beginning that I would face tyranny and there were attempts to put me in a corner. I feel that to stand for the truth is not easy," Anton told the media in the evening.

"About my whereabouts during the incident, all I have to say is this: If you see violence, injustice acts occurring in front of you, you must try to stop it with your hands, your words or your heart, right?

"And that was my intention, and I believe that God will reveal the truth," he said.

Police last week named Anton as a suspect for his alleged role in mobilizing crowds in the Gunung Sahari area in Central Jakarta on May 14, which ended up in looting and arson.

During the session yesterday, the police, he said, also asked him questions about the May 12 Trisakti University incident, in which four students were shot dead and which apparently ignited the riots.

"I told them I do not know anything about that. I was quite dizzy with the questions," Anton said.

Anton was escorted yesterday by seven of his 19 lawyers from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.

Suhana Natawilwana, one of the lawyers, said the police should drop all of their charges against their client due to the absence of strong evidence.

On May 12 and May 13, Anton was at home, the lawyer said.

On May 14, Anton was on his way to his private Islamic boarding school in Cisarua, Bogor, when he became trapped in the crowds on Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta.

"Anton was surrounded by the crowds, and people started to shake his hands. That's when he felt it his responsibility to prevent the mobs from looting or burning," Suhana explained.

Anton was then asked by marines there to calm the crowds, he stated.

"That's when suddenly a group of men with short haircuts and big muscles attired in reform attributes tried to push him to the Mangga Dua area, but Anton refused and took the road to Pasar Baru, Senen and Kemayoran. After that he went home by ojek (motorcycle taxi)."

The unidentified men kept on following him, Suhana said. (edt)