Governor tries to reconcile as East Flores remains tense
Governor tries to reconcile as East Flores remains tense
Yemris Fointuna and Jacob J. Herin, The Jakarta Post,
Kupang/Flores
East Nusa Tenggara governor Piet A. Tallo met with local
leaders, including religious leaders, in Larantuka Tuesday
following the burning down of the town's courthouse and
prosecutor's office on Saturday.
Schools have since reopened but people remain wary of going
out, especially at night, and employees of the court and
prosecutor's offices are still receiving protection from the
diocese.
Provincial prosecutor's office spokesman Douglas Oskar Riwu
added that virtually all of his office's and the court's files
had been destroyed, and that they would first have to make out an
inventory of all cases filed with the two institutions.
East Flores regent Felix Fernandes said the administration had
provided two temporary buildings for the court and prosecutors,
and he urged their staff to return to work as soon as possible.
The burning down of the district court and prosecutor's office
in Larantuka, a mainly Catholic town, followed the conviction of
a local priest, Frans Amanue, for defaming East Flores regent
Felix Fernandes.
The defendant received two months in jail, suspended for five
months -- meaning he will not go to jail unless he reoffends
within the next five months. The priest had been quoted in a
local paper as saying that the budget estimates totaling Rp 119
million that had been sent by the regency to Jakarta did not make
sense, and that some of it would be used by the regent in his own
interests.
Governor Tallo urged people to refrain from anarchic acts. "Do
not settle problems by making other problems," he said during a
meeting with local leaders. "Let's put our trust in the existing
mechanisms and avoid friction within society," he said.
Police have arrested three suspects, and residents say they
are staying at home at night for fear of being arrested. Since
Saturday, security personnel have been conducting house searches
to find those responsible for the attacks.
On Monday, provincial police chief Brig.Gen. Edward Aritonang
also met with local leaders, including Bishop Mgr. Darius Nggawa.
"I asked for his support in calming down the public," Edward
said.