Students stage protest over preacher's arrest

SEMARANG (JP): Hundreds of Islamic students staged a protest Saturday over police questioning of a preacher suspected of inciting the recent riots in Pekalongan.

The protesters, many of them barefooted and wearing sarongs, massed near the provincial legislative council. Their bid to march to the police headquarters was foiled by riot police who closely watched the demonstration.

The students demanded that Afifuddin Musytari be cleared of charges of inciting the recent riots in Pekalongan and his inflammatory remarks that the authorities said were offensive to the dominant Golkar.

Chanting slogans and shouting Allahu Akbar (God is Great), the demonstrators unfurled banners criticizing the police for questioning Afifuddin and supporting the preacher.

Coordinator of the demonstration, Zainal Abidin, told The Jakarta Post that they represented students from dozens of Islamic schools in Pekalongan, Semarang, and Batang.

"We demand the police release Kyai (preacher) Afifuddin because he is the victim of slander by someone who has the ambition to get a position in the government," Zainal said.

The police suspected Afifuddin, who runs The Holly Alfurqon Islamic boarding school in Semarang, of triggering riots in Pekalongan, 400 kilometers east of Jakarta. Pekalongan has been continually hit by unrest since March 26.

The unrest was allegedly sparked by singer Rhoma Irama's change of party allegiance from the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) to the ruling Golkar and the replacement of PPP banners with Golkar's in the town.

An angry mob burned down the stage for Rhoma's concert, which would be attended by President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

The incident escalated to a mob of 1,000 people burning and damaging property and 60 buildings belonging mainly to ethnic Chinese. Eight people were injured in scuffles with security officers.

Thirty people have been sentenced to probational terms ranging from three days to three months for their involvement in the March 26 riot.

After demonstrating at the council, the students marched to the provincial police headquarters.

But they were blocked by riot police, who convinced them to disperse because irresponsible people could infiltrate them and spark violence.

Hundreds of police in anti-riot gear were seen on full alert in the streets in anticipation of violence. Dogs and dozens of police patrol cars were used to block the entrance to the headquarters.

A Pekalongan student, Absori, was permitted to enter the police headquarters and submit a 180-page petition signed by 4,300 Pekalongan residents, who insisted that Afifuddin was not the one who incited the riots.

A police officer who received the petition said it was the second petition submitted by the residents.

The students prayed at the Baiturahman Mosque before they peacefully dispersed.

Afifuddin was interrogated for the third time Saturday. The questioning will continue today.

Afifuddin was declared a suspect after a Semarang lawyer, Jawade Hafidz, filed a complaint with the police about his inflammatory preaching.

Jawade said that following his report to the police, he was often terrorized by anonymous callers.

"They (callers) shouted dirty words at me and threatened me. But I was calm because I trust in the security officers and supremacy of the law," Jawade told the Post. (05/Har)