Ulema denies inciting Pekalongan riots

JAKARTA (JP): A Moslem ulema in Central Java has denied the accusation that he incited last week's riots in the coastal town of Pekalongan.

Afifudin Musytari HB, the principal of The Holy Al-Furqon Mangkang Islamic boarding school in Semarang, said he had not meant to insult any political or ethnic groups when he addressed a gathering before the riots.

"I did not mean to offend anyone or any group," he was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

Afifudin made the denial after lawyer Jawace Hafids reported him to the Semarang police on suspicion of making insults that had incited the riots, which lasted three days.

The Pekalongan riots erupted after local government officials removed United Development Party (PPP) flags from the city's streets. They were replaced by Golkar flags.

Angry supporters of the Moslem-oriented PPP set fire to a stage to be used for a music show featuring Dangndut star Rhoma Irama, a one-time PPP member who has crossed to Golkar.

The violence continued until Wednesday. About 60 shops belonging to ethnic Chinese were wrecked and looted. Several people were reportedly injured.

PPP officials have said they suspect that several ulemas in Central Java incited the riots with their inflammatory preaches targeting election contestants and certain groups.

When filing his complaint with the police, Jawade submitted a cassette recording of Afifudin's speech delivered at the Nahdlatul Ulama's office in Jenggot, southern Pekalongan, on March 15.

Jawade, a deputy chief of the Central Java chapter of the National Youths Committee, an affiliate of Golkar, said in his report to police that, as a Moslem, he was offended by Afifudin's speech.

Central Java police spokesman Lt. Col. Bardja said the authorities needed a day or two to study Jawade's complaint before they decided a course of action.

Bardja said the police would summon Afifudin, Jawade and several witnesses.

Afifudin is scheduled to appear before police investigators in Semarang on Monday.

The spokesman for Central Java's Diponegoro military command, Lt. Col. Sugeng Suryanto, said the authorities would seek more evidence before arresting the five people they suspect of inciting the riots.

"Their identities are already in our hands. We hope we can catch them and announce their names soon," he said.

The culprits, he said, were identified during last week's meeting between local government officials, Moslem leaders, military officers and representatives of political organizations. (pan)