From: John MacDougall Subject: IN: SCMP - Troops stand guard as riot damage cleared To: apakabar@clark.net (John MacDougall) Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 20:47:32 -0500 (EST) South China Morning Post Monday December 30 1996 Indonesia Troops stand guard as riot damage cleared Written off: a Muslim student paints over graffiti daubed on the wall of a shop in the West Java town of Tasikmalaya after rioting youths set buildings, cars and churches ablaze. Reuter photo AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Jakarta Troops remained on guard yesterday in a West Java town where riots last week resulted in millions of dollars of damage to more than 100 buildings. Traffic police worked the streets of Tasikmalaya accompanied by soldiers following the rampage by a Muslim mob against mainly Christian targets last Thursday. At least four people were killed. "Soldiers still assist us in keeping order but they number much less than yesterday," Tasikmalaya district's spokesman Asep Rashid said. Security authorities were holding 120 people following the riots, the Jakarta Post said yesterday. A military spokesman in West Java, Lieutenant-Colonel Herman Ibrahim, was quoted as saying the Army was still holding 78 people suspected of being connected with the rioting, while police were holding 24 people in Tasikmalaya and 18 in nearby Ciawi, the daily said. But military officials in Tasikmalaya said the Army had turned over all detainees to the police. The town's police chief could not be reached for confirmation and his staff would not comment. Thousands of Muslims began rioting after a protest against alleged police brutality against three local Islamic teachers. Up to 3,000 troops and riot police were deployed to quell the unrest. Reports said more than 100 buildings and 116 vehicles were damaged in Tasikmalaya, with the Kompas daily putting the cost at 50 billion rupiah (HK$162 million). "The riot in Tasikmalaya on Thursday caused damage to 13 churches, 89 shops, 12 police stations, four factories, four schools, six banks and three hotels," said the head of Tasikmalaya district W. H. Suljana, the Antara news agency reported. The agency added that rioters also set fire to or stoned 76 cars and 40 motorcycles, adding that most of the vehicles attacked by rioters were those on display in car dealerships. The official death toll rose by one to four after it was found that a 34-year-old shop owner died of a heart attack while his shop was under attack, Antara said. The other fatalities included an ethnic Chinese woman. Cleaning up operations ended yesterday, Mr Rashid added. A resident said the main Zainal Mustofa street, which was hardest hit by the riot, had yesterday been reopened to traffic. ----- End Included Message -----