---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 15:10:36 -0500 (EST)
From: indonesia-l@igc.apc.org
To: apakabar@clark.net
Subject: IN: VOA - Tasikmalaya Riot

INDONESIA-L


INTRO:  HUNDREDS OF MUSLIM PROTESTERS WENT ON A RAMPAGE IN WEST 
JAVA, INDONESIA, TODAY (THURSDAY) -- SETTING FIRE TO CHURCHES, 
SHOPS AND AUTOMOBILES.  AS DAVID BUTLER REPORTS, THERE WERE NO 
IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES IN THE RIOTING.

TEXT:  THE DISTURBANCE FLARED UP IN THE WEST JAVA CITY, 
TASIKMALAYA, 200 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF JAKARTA.

REPORTS SAY THE RIOTING BEGAN AFTER POLICE REFUSED TO REPLY TO 
DEMONSTRATORS' QUESTIONS ABOUT A PUBLISHED REPORT NINE POLICEMEN 
HAD BEATEN THREE MUSLIM TEACHERS.

GANGS OF PROTESTERS -- MANY OF THEM YOUNG PEOPLE -- RAMPAGED 
THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR SEVERAL HOURS.  THEY SET FIRE TO THREE 
CHURCHES AND AT LEAST TWO SHOPS AND CARS.

SOME OF THE TARGETS ARE OWNED BY ETHNIC CHINESE.  ETHNIC CHINESE 
AND CHRISTIANS ARE RESENTED BY MANY MUSLIMS FOR THEIR RELATIVE 
SUCCESS IN BUSINESS.

POLICE AND TROOPS TRIED TO SEAL OFF THE AREA OF RIOTING, BUT 
SMOKE WAS SEEN RISING FROM THE CITY CENTER, FIVE HOURS AFTER THE 
DISTURBANCES BROKE OUT.

THE REPORT THAT SPARKED THE UNREST APPEARED IN THE "REPUBLIKA" 
NEWSPAPER.  IT SAID NINE POLICEMEN TORTURED THE TEACHERS AFTER 
ONE OF THEM WAS ACCUSED OF PUSHING A POLICEMAN'S SON -- A STUDENT
-- INTO A SWIMMING POOL.

THE STUDENT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT STEALING.  THE REPUBLIKA
REPORT SAID THE THREE TEACHERS WERE STRIPPED AND BEATEN 
UNCONSCIOUS.  ALL THREE WERE HOSPITALIZED -- ONE IN SERIOUS 
CONDITION.

A PROMINENT MUSLIM LEADER HAS STRONGLY DENOUNCED THURSDAY'S 
RIOTING.  ABDURRAHMAN WAHID -- CHAIRMAN OF INDONESIA'S LARGEST 
MUSLIM ORGANIZATION -- SAYS THE DESTRUCTION SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN
PLACE, FOR ANY REASON.

THE DAY BEFORE THE VIOLENCE IN TASIKMALAYA, INDONESIA'S ARMED 
FORCES CHIEF FEISAL TANJUNG SAID CONFLICTS TRIGGERED BY RELIGIOUS
DIFFERENCES WERE MORE DANGEROUS THAN THOSE CAUSED BY ETHNIC AND 
RACIAL DIFFERENCES. (SIGNED) 

NEB / DB / KB / WOD

26-Dec-96 11:51 AM EST (1651 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.

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