Five Situbondo residents tried over October riot

Five Situbondo residents tried over October riot

JAKARTA (JP): Five people were charged in the Situbondo
district court yesterday for their role in the massive riot in
the East Java town in October in which five people were killed.

The five accused, all residents of Situbondo, were the first
of the 54 people the authorities plan to prosecute in connection
with the riot, which shook the peaceful coexistence the Moslems
and Christians in the town had previously taken for granted.

The five were charged with arson and destruction to property.
Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment,
Antara reported.

In the October riot, 21 church buildings, five Catholic
schools and a Catholic orphanage were razed, as well as a number
of government buildings.

The October riot began outside the same court building moments
after the government prosecution demanded a five year jail term
for a young Moslem charged with defaming the religion. The angry
crowd, who had wanted the death sentence, vented their anger
initially on government buildings, but later on the churches. A
priest and his family were killed, trapped in one of the burning
churches.

The five suspects were charged specifically with the
destruction of the Santo Paulus Catholic church, a house
belonging to a priest, and a jewelry shop.

Antara said the trial attracted many prominent local ulemas,
police and military leaders. (emb)