Tasikmalaya riot claims three lives
By MMI Ahyani
TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): Three people were found dead yesterday, casualties of the rioting that erupted Thursday over alleged brutality by police against residents but which later developed into racist and sectarian violence.
Commander of the Siliwangi military command Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday there were no casualties in the incident. Other news agencies reported two deaths, while sources told The Jakarta Post that three bodies had been found.
One of the victims was a woman of Chinese descent, Giok Ie Wie, 45, whose charred body was found in the rubble of her leather shop on Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa. Another victim was a male rioter who fell from a speeding truck, and the third was a woman; the identities of two of the victims have yet to be established.
Tayo called on the town's residents yesterday to maintain calm and not be provoked by rumors. Accompanied by chief of West Java police Maj. Gen. Nana Permana and leader of the Condong Islamic boarding school, KH Makmun, Tayo nevertheless warned against further attempts at unrest.
Speaking also in his capacity as chairman of the West Java office of the security agency Bakorstanasda, Tayo said he would take firm action against anyone committing abuse or vandalism.
"Please remember the destruction that occurred in Tasikmalaya...was not committed by those from the pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) because I believe the residents are people of faith," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Dozens of factories, at least three churches, a school, at least three major department stores, dozens of smaller shops and scores of cars and other vehicles were either burnt or damaged in the violence that broke out Thursday afternoon and lasted well into yesterday afternoon. It was sparked by local pesantren students protesting alleged mistreatment by police of their teachers.
Separately, in Jakarta, President Soeharto warned society against people attempting to trigger unrest among religious groups.
Addressing thousands of members of the Armed Forces and civil servants at their joint celebration of Christmas at Jakarta Convention Center last night, Soeharto called for self-restraint when facing sensitive religious issues.
"Religious communities need to exercise self-restraint, by avoiding activities which may disturb people of other faiths...or hurt them," he said.
Uneasy calm returned to the city yesterday afternoon, although violence spread to neighboring districts. The district of Ciawi, located 20 kilometers northwest of here, and the Cilawu district, saw at least five shops and six trucks burnt by rioters.
Most of the 5,000 residents of Chinese descent in Tasikmalaya, whose population is 1.6 million, are being sheltered and guarded by security officers in various government offices.
Meanwhile, looters made their way through half-burnt and damaged shops and factories, especially in the commercial center of Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa. Some residents, however, said the looters were not pesantren students.
"Those looters are criminals," a resident said.
Troops from Siliwangi military command have rounded up 160 people, mostly youths caught looting. One of those detained was a sixth-grade elementary school student. Police have detained another 24 people.
"The rest were residents tempted into looting. Some of the others are repeat offenders," Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi said.
As of yesterday afternoon, troops from six battalions from the Siliwangi military command and the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) were still deployed. Almost every corner and turn in the city was guarded by a group of five or six men.
Commander of the Tarumanegara local military resort Col. M. Yasin, in a meeting with West Java Governor R. Nuriana earlier yesterday, said he was concerned the unrest could spread even further, for instance to Garut, some 50 kilometers west of Tasikmalaya.
He also said his people had detained one person found handing out leaflets instigating people to take to the streets. As of yesterday afternoon, Garut was calm, albeit tense.
The administration started clearing debris from the city right after the Friday midday prayer. Dozens of street sweepers and garbage trucks were deployed on the streets where smoke was still billowing from burnt buildings.
"The city administration only has two fire trucks," said Tayo when asked why the authorities did not try to extinguish the fires when the rioting began.
Tasikmalaya Regent Suljana Wirata told the Post he hoped the city would soon recover from the shock so that normal activities could resume Monday.
The Post counted at least 75 shops in the first kilometer of the two-kilometer Jalan H. Zaenal Mustofa which had been destroyed, 30 of them were burnt.
The city was still sealed off to incoming traffic. Approaching vehicles were all parked in the Cikoneng village.
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