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)