Four people confirmed as suspects in Tasikmalaya riots

Four people confirmed as suspects in Tasikmalaya riots

JAKARTA (JP): Four people will be named suspects in the West
Java's recent fatal riots and may be charged with subversion, an
official said Sunday.

Antara quoted the head of West Java prosecution office, M.
Adenan, in Bandung as saying one of the four had been held for
questioning since 10 days ago, while the arrest warrant for the
other three was to be issued soon.

He identified the four as AGS, 24, AM, 24, MH, 24 and AF, 25.
No other details were given about their involvement in the
Tasikmalaya rioting in December, which claimed four lives and
damaged many buildings and public facilities.

"Based on witnesses' information, the four youths can be
processed under the subversion law and tried," Adenan said.

Under Indonesian laws, subversion is punishable by death.

Adenan did not rule out the possibility that, after police
questioning, the number of suspects could increase, or that the
mastermind, whom the public here describe as "intellectual
actor," of the incident would "appear."

Adenan accused the suspects of "misusing their organizations,"
where they are members and even chairman, to commit a wrongdoing.
He did not name the organizations.

He pledged to disclose the suspects' details immediately after
questioning was completed within a month, and expected the trial
commence soon afterward.

An angry crowd went on a burning rampage on Dec. 26 over
police mistreatment of a local Moslem teacher and two students.

They attacked several churches, burned several factories,
vehicles, three department stores and other facilities, causing
an estimated Rp 84 billion worth of damage. The police in
question have since been dishonorably dismissed.

The authorities have blamed the unrest on the unidentified
"third party" and a pass-the-blame game has since ensued. The
area was known as a stronghold of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem
organization, and its chairman, Abdurrahman Wahid, believes the
unrest was contrived to tarnish his name and the organization.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, accused a non-
governmental organization (NGO), the Humanika Foundation, of
furnishing rioters with money. One of the alleged rioters was
identified by Abdurrahman as NU youth Mimih Haeruman, whom
Abdurrahman said fell trap into Humanika's maneuver.

Abdurrahman also lashed out at Moslem activist Adi Sasono, who
was founder of another NGO, Humaika.

Humanika's activists, including its leader Bursah Zarnubi, has
denied Abdurrahman's accusation and threatened to bring the
controversial Moslem scholar to court. There has been no
development since Bursah announced the planned lawsuit, but some
people have pointed out Abdurrahman might have confused Humanika
with Humaika.

Last week Abdurrahman asked the public to stop making a fuss
about his allegation against the NGOs. (swe)