Banjarmasin riot trial begins

Banjarmasin riot trial begins

JAKARTA (JP): The Banjarmasin District Court began yesterday
to try 13 people suspected of involvement in a May 23 riot that
claimed 123 lives.

The session was closed to the public as most defendants were
minors, Antara reported. The 13, who were the first to be tried
from among 64 suspects, were split into two groups and tried
simultaneously.

The first suspect in front of the court was a 25 year-old man,
identified only as Muk, who was charged with carrying a sickle on
Jl. Samudra where rioters attacked the Lima Cahaya department
store.

The other 12 suspects were accused yesterday of looting the
Dewi Murni shop in the Sudimampir subdistrict. They were caught
redhanded trying to breakdown a locked door to the building.

On May 23, the last day of the 27-day election campaign, a
riot exploded when supporters from the government-backed Golkar
clashed with supporters of the Moslem-dominated United
Development Party (PPP). Dozens of buildings were badly damaged
in the incident.

Prosecutor Zolly Rahmatullah cited article 12 of the 1951
Emergency Law that prohibits people from carrying sharp weapons
in public without a permit. The law carries a maximum 10 year
imprisonment penalty.

A nervous and stammering Muk told the court he realized there
was a riot when the Lima Cahaya department store in his
neighborhood caught fire. The street vendor admitted carrying
the weapon but said it was only for self-protection.

The court session was adjourned until July 9.

The other 12 suspects were charged under article 363 of the
Criminal Code on theft. They were caught between 8 p.m. and 11
p.m. on May 23.

Judge B.F. Siregar declared the trial closed to the public as
most of the suspects were under 16 years old.

The 64 suspects are facing charges ranging from carrying
illegal weapons to looting.

The rampage in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan,
capped the most violent election campaign the country has ever
had. All the provinces in Java had their share of bloody riots
during the campaigning period.

In the Banjarmasin riot, dozens of buildings, two churches, at
least three schools and more than 70 vehicles were badly damaged
by rioters. The Mitra Plaza, Sudimampir and Lima Cahaya shopping
malls and five other shopping centers were looted and set ablaze.

One hundred and twenty people were trapped inside Mitra Plaza
and tragically died. The government branded most of the victims
rioters and looters.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation urged the government last
week to retract the statement. They also demanded that an
independent investigation be set up to help ensure the protection
of the victims' rights.

"The public's sense of security must be restored before they
will have the courage to disclose information objectively on what
they witnessed during the riot," the foundation urged in a
statement signed by chairman Bambang Widjojanto and secretary
Munir. (35)