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)