W. Java Moslem activist denies involvement in Tasikmalaya riot

JAKARTA (JP): A West Java Moslem activist has denied masterminding the Dec. 26 riot in Tasikmalaya and plans to publish his version of the incident.

Galih Qurbani, leader of the Garut branches of the Islamic Students Movement (PMII) and the Humanika Foundation, said in Bandung Sunday night the accusation was groundless.

He said he was in Garut when a mob went on a burning and looting rampage in Tasikmalaya and only learned of the incident from the TV news that evening.

"I know people won't believe me but it's all I can say," he said in a discussion on the issue also attended by Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

It was Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, who publicly accused several Moslem activists of masterminding the religious and ethnically motivated Tasikmalaya riot.

Humanika officials in Jakarta consider the controversial statement slanderous and have asked the police to question Gus Dur on it.

Qurbani said Humanika is an organization dedicated to educating Moslems and defending human rights. "It does not fight for a particular ideology," he said.

During the discussion Gus Dur reiterated his belief that Humanika leaders and PMII activists mobilized people to run amok following rumors that a teacher at a Tasikmalaya Islamic senior high school teacher died after being tortured by police officers.

The riot caused estimated losses of Rp 84 billion (US$35 million) after police posts, churches, a Buddhist temple, factories and shops belonging to people of Chinese descent were burned.

Gus Dur said he had evidence to support his allegation and that he was ready to prove it in court.

Qurbani accused Gus Dur of making the accusation for political ends.

To publicize local Moslem activists' version of the Dec. 26 incident the Islamic Students Movement plans to publish a nine- page "white book".

The pamphlet, to be launched next week, would recount both Humanika's and the student organization's position in the controversy, Qurbani said.

"We will prove that PMII was not involved in the riot as the public believes we were," added Abdul Muis, chairman of the Tasikmalaya PMII branch. (pan)