Riot masterminds 'may know sociology'

JAKARTA (JP): There is a possibility that those responsible for instigating the riots have a certain degree of knowledge of sociology, and used this to stir up chaos, Minister of Justice Muladi said Wednesday.

He said that this knowledge had helped to identify which areas were easily provoked. Muladi was commenting in response to questions on why "provocateurs", while often accused of being behind recent riots, were never revealed.

"I don't know (why they have not been revealed), but it is clear that if they do exist, there must be an undercover operation," he said before a cabinet meeting, adding that the mysterious parties seemed to be "untouchables".

"The movement is subversive -- it is underground ... and is in possession of certain knowledge." This would be "knowledge of sociology and anthropology (to identify) which areas are easily provoked -- areas which are diverse in ethnicity, religion, and race. It's quite evident," he said.

Muladi had earlier said that the government should take seriously the statements of people such as Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid, who the minister said was well informed.

Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, had once said that displeased loyalists of former president Soeharto were likely to be behind the riots. He visited Soeharto on Tuesday to ask him to use his influence to stop the unrest created by his followers.

Amien Rais, another influential Muslim leader, had said provocateurs had to be well financed, sophisticated, well trained and well organized to be able to spread unrest across the archipelago.

On Wednesday, the chief of the National Police detectives for general crimes unit, Col. Makbul Padmanagara, said he had visited Abdurrahman's South Jakarta home to clarify his statements with three other detectives.

Abdurrahman said he was "glad to help" and also urged that the government not cover up the ongoing unrest in Maluku province.

"Horrible things have happened there and it has to stop." The latest death toll from police is 54, but details and other reports of deaths remain unconfirmed.

Detective Makbul said that "police have enough information from Gus Dur", which he said would be used to help the investigation into the Ambon riots.

Also on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Faisal Tandjung said some leads had been found regarding the involvement of provocateurs in recent riots.

"We already have lists of names of provocateurs," Faisal said, but failed to give details. Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto earlier said the riots in Ambon were similar to others with religious overtones such as in Jakarta and Kupang.

Faisal also blamed the media for sensationalist reporting.

"We are doing the best we can by deploying security forces. What more guarantee do you want? We will enforce the law and take firm action. Officers will stick to the presumption of innocence," he said.

Muladi had also reiterated that the government would no longer use the subversion law, which the government has said would be scrapped, and that "preventive detention", such as that conducted against alleged communists in the past, was no longer an option.

In democracy, he said, the law should be upheld. (edt/emf)