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Four suspects over West Java riot, Indonesia Says

Source
Agence France Presse - February 6, 1997

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities suspect four men of inciting a violent riot in the West Java town of Tasikmalaya last December which left four people dead, a report said Thursday.

"Based on information from witnesses and on-site evidence, the four men are suspected as being the incitors of the riot," the deputy of the West Java high attorney office, Armin Aribowo, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

He identified the suspects only by their initials AGS, AM, AI and MH.

MH is currently being sought by the authorities.

Press reports have identified the four as activists of several youth and Moslem organisations.

Thousands of Moslems angered by police mistreatment of three teachers of a local Islamic school, went on a rampage in Tasikmalaya on December 26, torching and damaging over 100 buildings and vehicles.

Four people died in the riot.

Although several police stations were among the damaged buildings, most of the other targets were properties of ethnic Chinese and non-Moslems.

Four policemen suspected of having tortured the Islamic school teachers have since been dismissed from the force but will face court martial as well for their deed, the police have said.

Indonesia, the world's largest Moslem-populated nation, has been plagued by a string of recent ethnic and religious clashes that have led to the death of 12 people since October. bs/jg/cmc

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