Habibie hits damage, arson of 22 churches
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has condemned as "unforgivable" the burning and vandalization of 22 churches and five Protestant and Catholic schools in the capital last Sunday.
In a meeting on Thursday with his economic advisor Frans Seda, the President said he was outraged because no religion tolerated such shameful acts.
"This is truly an unforgivable act," Frans quoted the President as saying at Merdeka Palace.
Frans, who is Catholic, said the meeting was held in his capacity "as someone whose church was burned down" in the unrest which began in Ketapang, West Jakarta.
"It is extremely painful for us because the incident took place on Sunday when Protestants and Catholics are obliged to attend church".
Frans presented copies of international protests over the destruction, including from the Vatican, to Habibie.
"Since 1996, more than 500 churches have been burned," Frans said.
Meanwhile, 19 members of the Islamic Defender Front visited Jakarta city councilors on Thursday to demand the resignations of Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman if they fail to uncover the ringleader behind the Ketapang riots.
Head of the front Habib M. Rizieq Syihab said the authorities should ascertain all the details of the case to prevent Moslems from being unfairly blamed.
"The tendency to single out Moslems as the scapegoats is caused mainly by the authorities' obscure remarks. We very much regret the fact that some of the officials made remarks as though it was the Moslems who were behind the vandalism and killings."
He presented three samurai swords, a wooden stick and four missiles from the riots to the councilors.
Habib made the statement in response to media reports that West Jakarta military district chief Lt. Col. Heri Susanto accused Moslem preachers at the scene of the unrest of triggering the disturbance.
"It is slander toward the preachers," he said.
Habib conceded that members of the front were among the crowd during the clashes, but said they had sought to restrain people from committing further destruction.
He argued the preachers intentionally delivered "fiery" remarks -- such as announcing the killing of Ambonese security guards at an amusement center -- in an attempt to gain the attention of the incensed people and control them.
"Experience shows that urging them to do something like to disperse is not effective," he said.
Brawl
The riots developed from a brawl on Saturday night between local residents and civilian guards, most of Ambonese descent, of the entertainment center which was located near a mosque in Ketapang.
Locals alleged the center was a gambling den.
Community leaders and security personnel intervened to try to settle the dispute amicably, but their efforts were negated by rumors on Sunday morning that an Ambonese gang had set the mosque on fire. The rumor proved untrue.
Habib said the front had deployed between 20 and 40 members in Ketapang to prevent reprisals.
"Ketapang residents are now living in fear due to circulating rumors and anonymous calls about Ambonese seeking revenge."
Habib regretted the looting and destruction of the churches, but said it was understandable because the people were incensed.
"Even though we do not condone the vandalism, in this case it was a normal reaction because any Moslem would be angry if they heard that a mosque was damaged."
He denied front members played a part in the destruction.
Habib complained that some security officers had displayed an unsympathetic attitude in handling the dispute.
"The officers did not respond to our demand to seriously get rid of the operation of the hoodlums," he said, referring to the security guards at the entertainment center. (ind/ylt/prb)