Mastermind behind riots almost caught, says Gen. Feisal

Mastermind behind riots almost caught, says Gen. Feisal

JAKARTA (JP): The authorities have almost collected enough
evidence to arrest the alleged mastermind behind the recent riots
that shook East and West Java, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal
Tanjung said in Yogyakarta yesterday.

Feisal claimed the authorities had identified the culprit but
needed more proof to arrest him or her.

"We strongly believe the person we are closely watching is the
one who incited the riots in (West Java's) Tasikmalaya and (East
Java's) Situbondo," he said.

Feisal, who was in Yogyakarta to address an annual gathering
of Supreme Court officials, declined to disclose the suspect's
identity.

"It would be to premature to make the culprit's identity
public because we are still collecting evidence," the general
said as quoted by Antara.

The riot that rocked Tasikmalaya on Dec. 26 was triggered by
the mistreatment of Moslem teachers summoned to the local police
office. The teachers had allegedly punished the son of one of the
policemen for stealing his classmates' money.

Shops, churches, factories and police posts were reduced to
ashes or damaged in the rioting that developed into an anti-
Chinese rampage. Four people were killed in the violence.

In Situbondo, more than 20 churches, a court building and
shops were attacked on Oct. 10 in one of the worst instances of
religious violence in Indonesia.

The Situbondo day-long calamity began after local Moslems
became unhappy about the five-year jail term demanded by the
district court for a Moslem being tried on charges of blaspheming
Islam.

Observers and politicians have theorized that the social,
economic and political disparities prevailing in society caused
the unrest. They pointed out that the widespread corruption in
the government had only worsened social unrest.

Others, including the Armed Forces, believe the incidents were
orchestrated by irresponsible people who want to incite chaos.

Feisal explained the flurry of violence could have resulted
from mounting social dissatisfaction. "The rioters felt that the
law had not been enforced as they would have expected," he said.

He deplored the fact that the rioters targeted symbols of
development. "The public is longing for justice to be upheld," he
said. "The incidents make us realize how vital it is to promote
national resilience."

When addressing the meeting, Feisal called on Supreme Court
officials to set examples of good law enforcement. (23/36)