Vatican calls in envoy to explain Tasikmalaya riot
Vatican calls in envoy to explain Tasikmalaya riot
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's newly appointed Ambassador to the
Holy See, Irawan Abidin, was called in by the Vatican authorities
Dec. 27 to explain the riots which rocked Tasikmalaya, West Java.
In a statement received here yesterday from the Indonesian
Embassy to the Holy See, Irawan said he had met with Monsignor
Celestino Migliore, Undersecretary for Relations with States, to
explain the "Tasikmalaya incident".
Irawan explained that the riot was the irresponsible action of
a small group of people. He strongly denied suggestions that the
violence was directed against people of Christian denomination.
"The culprits have been caught by the authorities ,and in the
near future will be brought before the courts," he said.
Irawan presented his credentials as Indonesia's ambassador to
the Holy See two weeks ago. He was formerly ambassador to Athens
and prior to that the director of foreign information relations
at the Indonesian foreign ministry in Jakarta.
During a Christmas gathering with members of the Indonesian
community in the Vatican Monday, Irawan reminded the tiny
Indonesian community there that the general election would be in
May and called on everyone's support to help make it a success.
The ceremony was also attended by Indonesia's Ambassador to
Rome, Witjaksana Soegarda.
In Tasikmalaya, residents made the best of the situation to
see in the new year.
Thousands of people thronged the town center Tuesday night
to wait for the new year.
Short of entertainment -- hotels canceled all traditional
musical programs and there was no open-air concert in Dadaha
square as in past years -- the revelers marched up and down the
main streets to inspect debris and the charred remains of
properties razed or destroyed in the Dec. 26 riot.
There were no reports of trouble.
"This is still merry. The difference is that last year people
walked up and down window shopping. Tonight, they're looking at
debris," commented Haji Uu, a 55-year old town resident.
Tasikmalaya Regent H. Suljana, who toured the town on New
Year's Eve along with police and military leaders, was pleased
with the security situation.
"Everything is under control," he told reporters.
He said normalcy had not been fully restored yet although
security is under control.
"At least 12,700 residents of the town lost their jobs because
of the riots," he said.
Among the riot's casualties were some of the town's largest
department stores, and dozens of shops, as well as government
buildings and churches. (mds/ahy)