W. Java Moslem activist denies involvement in Tasikmalaya riot
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)