Suspects arrested over Flores riot
Yemris Fointuna and Jacob Herin, The Jakarta Post, Kupang/Flores
Police have arrested three men who took part in a riot in which a courthouse and a prosecutor's office were torched on Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, after a priest was convicted of libel.
The three suspects, identified as Yohanis Sabon, Agustinus Diaz and Wem, were taken into custody during a raid by a joint police and military force.
"The three are being questioned by police. But it remains unclear if they are the masterminds of the violence or not," said a police officer at the Larantuka Police headquarters in East Flores.
He said the suspects had admitted taking part in the rioting.
The number of arrests was expected to climb as police continued their investigation.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Larantuka, a mainly Catholic town, on Saturday after judges found Frans Amanue guilty of defaming the local regent, Felix Fernandez by labeling him corrupt.
The judges sentenced the priest to two months in jail, suspended for five months -- meaning he will not go to prison unless he reoffends within the next five months.
The protest quickly turned violent with an angry mob setting fire to the Larantuka District Court and the town's prosecutor's office.
Not casualties were reported but dozens of judges, prosecutors and other officials and their family members had to flee the town.
They were still being guarded by police officers on Monday.
Larantuka chief Judge Wayan Suparta and chief prosecutor Katar Ginting were among those under security protection at the diocese of Bishop Mgr. Fransiskus Kopong Kung.
"They do not yet dare go out to return to work because they are afraid of the locals. They will stay at the diocese for an indefinite period," an unnamed police officer said.
Priest Gabriel Unto da Silva, from Maumere district, appealed to all church members to stay calm and expressed regret over the violence.
Those involved in the burning should be held responsible, he said. "Don't run away from the reality. If you don't want to be responsible, why did you bring people to gather at the Larantuka District Court."
Another local Christian leader, Thomas Aquino Pareira, also regretted the incident apparently blamed on supporters of the priest.
East Flores legislative council speaker Lambertus Tulen Hajon said councillors will soon convene to hear explanations from the regent about the violent protest.
Regent Felix said he would not attend the meeting and that there was no need for him to give any clarification, saying the violence was an affair for police to deal with.
"It is nothing to do with politics," he added.
He said that should local people want peace in East Flores, they should avoid anarchy, spreading slander and hatred. "Whoever he is should take responsibility for what he has done."
Felix was apparently referring to the convicted priest.
Saturday's violence caused an estimated Rp 5 billion (US$588,235) in losses to the state, according to local officials.
To restore peace in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang was in the violence-hit town on Monday.
Police sent scores of Mobile Brigade police officers to Larantuka to help local security forces secure the town.