Central Java police chief Inspector General Edward Aritonang said here on Saturday that SYB was the one who had allegedly organized and directed the rioters in the incident.
He said those people were gathered the day before the incident and ahead of their departure to the Temanggung district court to see the trial of a defendant on a blesphemy case.
"SYB is the actor that has organized and given direction and job description. They (the rioters) received fuel money and a rice box which SYB probably had bought using his own money or money from his sympathizers. We are still investigating where the funds used for mobilizing the mass come from," he said.
He said SYB had done it because he was not satisfied with the sentence the judge had given to defendant Antonius Richmond Bawengan namely five years in jail.
"According to Article 156 of the Criminal Code the sentence is already maximal. But for them it must be a death sentence," he said.
The regional police chief said until now the police had named 24 suspects including SYB out of 52 witnesses questioned so far. They are now intensively being interrogated at the regional police command headquarters.
He said the 24 suspects are from Temanggung. "The mastermind and the number of suspects may still increase because the investigation is not yet finished. It will all be crosschecked with facts on the field," he said.
Edward said teams from the regional police and the Temanggung resort police commands would handle the case professionally, adding that the law must be enforced.
He hoped the people would not be easily influenced by rumors. He said the situation in Temanggung has now been secure and conducive. Security personnel that have so far been stationed in houses of prayers and government offices would be withdrawn in stages.
Two churches have been burned while another one vandalized during the rioting.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
