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)