Preacher Afifudin to stand trial

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)