Amir Tejo, Mojokerto (East Java) – Activists involved in a protest last week in Mojokerto, East Java, claim that the organized mob that turned the rally violent and attacked police and set fires was not part of their group, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights said Wednesday.

Syarifudin Nghulma Simeulue, a commissioner who visited Mojokerto to investigate the incident, said he had discussions with the group of activists who staged the protest at the district legislature last Friday. The violence left 19 people injured and 22 vehicles destroyed.

He said that according to the activists, the organized mob that went on a rampage had appeared suddenly from behind the crowd of real protesters. The activists said none of their previous protests had turned violent.

He said the activists would hand the commission, known as Komnas HAM, all documents and recordings they had regarding the incident.

"We will study and analyze all those documents, and after that we will decide whether the commission will dispatch a fact-finding team to look into this riot or not," Syarifudin said.

He said his visit here was also prompted by reports the commission received at its Jakarta headquarters that some of the people arrested after the incident had been mistreated by the police. He said he had yet to meet with those being detained. The local police have arrested 13 suspects so far.

Syarifudin said he also found that some of those injured by gunfire during the mayhem were still under tight police guard at Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital. The victims also have not received financial assistance from the police or the local government, he added.

"The bullet that went through Rendi's chest was owned by the government and therefore it should be held responsible and take care of Rendi's medical bills," he said, referring to one of the victims shot during the protest.