C. Java rioters surrender loot

REMBANG, Central Java (JP): Dozens of people who rioted in this regency recently have voluntarily relinquished their loot under an amnesty, officials and residents said yesterday.

The villagers surrendered their booty to their respective village or police chiefs who promised to return the goods to their rightful owners.

Rembang Regent Wachidi Rijono said that people who voluntarily returned their plunder and repented would not be prosecuted.

"People relinquished their loot of their own free will," he said, adding the move was being considered as evidence that the rioters were provoked into stealing.

"I couldn't sleep since I stole the goods in the wake of the rioting," said a 35-year-old Kragan villager who admitted stealing a radio and television set.

Another rioter said he decided to return his loot because he was haunted by a guilty feeling every time he saw what he had stolen.

Kragan and Sarang subdistricts were the worst hit in the mob violence, sparked by dramatic increases in prices of essential commodities, that occurred in this northern coastal regency from Jan. 26 through Jan. 29.

Central Java Governor Soewardi said yesterday 21 suspected rioters would be taken to court soon as a message that crime does not pay. (har/pan)