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)