Ongoing unrest linked to former president: Minister
Ongoing unrest linked to former president: Minister
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono suspected
on Tuesday that the ongoing violence across the country has
something to do with the prosecution against former president
Soeharto, who is alleged of massive graft during his 32-year
rule.
"This is a fact, that most riots are connected with the
investigation process concerning the Pak Harto case or some other
cases," Juwono remarked.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Antara news agency
office here, Juwono added that the riots were aimed at
jeopardizing the General Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly scheduled for August.
"There are some groups in Jakarta which have sent their men to
incite riots everywhere ahead of the Assembly's general session,"
Juwono said.
He would not identify the groups, but said they had members
from Jakarta and unlimited financial sources.
"If compared to these groups' funds, our Rp 4.2 billion
(US$506,024) budget for a battalion comprising of 500 soldiers
who are on duty for 270 days is nothing," Juwono said.
It is difficult, however, for the security authorities to
prove the allegation. "It is almost impossible for us to spot a
deal between people relating to the riots."
Meanwhile, Indonesian Military Chief Admiral Widodo denied any
involvement of certain groups in the military in the present
riots, saying all units in the military were under his control.
In strife-torn Poso in Central Sulawesi, representatives of
Muslim and Christian camps were united on Tuesday in calling on
security forces to stay neutral in handling the riots that have
so far left no less than 123 people killed and hundreds of others
injured.
"We are all victims of the conflict. We urge the President and
related institutions to thoroughly check on several parties
within the security forces that have taken sides with certain
camps and spread unfounded rumors to incite riots," Rev. Rinaldy
Damanik from the Crisis Center of Central Sulawesi Christian
Church (GKST) said.
On Tuesday, security authorities seized dozens of illegal
weapons belonging to the warring groups during a gun sweeping
operation, a military officer Col. Roy Karapang said.
(09/27/edt/dja)