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)