Preacher Afifudin to stand trial

SEMARANG: A Moslem preacher will soon be tried on charges of inciting riots in Pekalongan, Central Java, in March, the town's district court chief said yesterday.

Suharyono of the Pekalongan district court said he had received dossiers on the preacher, Afifudin Musytari, and that the trial could begin any time.

But court officials are considering trying him in Semarang for security reasons. "I have written to the Central Java High Court asking that preacher Afifudin be tried in Semarang," Suharyono said.

When police questioned the 46-year-old Afifudin in April in Semarang, his supporters demonstrated and demanded his release.

The riots erupted after local government officials removed United Development Party (PPP) flags from the town's streets. They were replaced by Golkar flags.

Afifudin, the principal of the Semarang's Holy Al-Furqon Mangkang Islamic boarding school and a staunch PPP supporter, said he had not meant to insult Golkar or any ethnic group when he addressed a gathering before the riots.

Angry supporters of the Moslem-oriented PPP set fire to a stage to be used in a Golkar rally, featuring dangdut star Rhoma Irama who had once been a PPP member.

The riots lasted four days. About 60 shops belonging to ethnic Chinese were vandalized and looted. Several people were reportedly injured. (har/pan)