Posted 02 May 2006 @ 20:47
Updated 02 May 2006 @ 20:48
MAGELANG, 02 May 2006 - The police have identified 41 suspects in riots linked to the Tuban regental elections and are focusing on seven people believed to have masterminded the unrest, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said Monday. The naming of the suspects came after the questioning of 104 people believed to be involved in Saturday's vandalism, where the incumbent regent's residence and the office of the Tuban chapter of the General Election Commission were among the buildings burned down, Anton said.
The police are determined to capture those responsible for funding the riots, he added.
"The Tuban incident was very tragic. We are currently investigating who was responsible for funding the mass riot," he said at National Police Headquarters. The police say the situation has returned to normal in Tuban after a curfew was imposed and a shoot-on-sight order was issued for rioters.
"From the evidence we have gathered, including our videotapes and the ones from other sources, we have identified seven persons believed to have triggered the riots," Anton said, using their initials of JS, IW, KR, WH, JM, SW and WR. "The investigation is still underway. It is likely that the number of suspects will increase." Small shops, shopping centers and traditional markets were back in business Monday, with people again venturing out of their homes in their vehicles. However, public areas were deserted at night, with the curfew still in place.
"My wife has bought our daily needs in the market. Soon after the riots, we were afraid to go out as we feared the opposing side (in the election dispute) would retaliate," local TV journalist Pipit said.
Thousands of supporters of candidate Noor Nahar Husein and his running mate Go Tjong Ping, who were supported by the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), embarked on an orgy of vandalism after hearing that incumbent Haeny Relawati from Golkar Party was ahead in the quick count for the elections. Many of the properties targeted belonged to Haeny, including her home.
Haeny said she was still the legitimate regent of Tuban because the KPUD had not decided the winner of the election. There was no need to worry about any retaliation from her party members, she added. "We've asked the people to calm down and not be easily provoked. I entrust the case to the existing law and continue leading Tuban even though the city administration hall was gutted by fire," she said.
Meanwhile, in Magelang, Central Java, PDIP chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri said Monday that her party set up a legal team to gather information about the riots. "We have sent the team to Tuban. It will check the process of the regental election and gather information on the main cause of the riots," Megawati said on the sidelines of her visit to communities near active Mt. Merapi. "Why were the supporters angry? We have to check it in the field. The most important thing is that we rely on the law to settle the problem."
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