Police Name 17 Suspects in N. Sumatra Sectarian Riot, Razing of Buddhist Temples
Jakarta. Police have named 17 suspects following a series of riots in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, on Saturday (30/07) although the ringleader is still at large.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the suspects took advantage of a misunderstanding which then led to the riot, and the razing of eight Buddhist temples.
“There are 17. Eight of them are related to theft and the others on vandalism. [The provocateur] is being investigated by the cyber crime unit, in cooperation with the Informatics Ministry in the digital forensic investigation. It is about who and where the position of the account user,” Boy said on Tuesday (02/08).
Police will continue educating the public against social media abuse, Boy said.
“We all are netizens, do not post lies. We will help to awaken the public and these particular netizens,” he concluded.
Saturday's incident began after residents grew angry with a woman of Chinese descent who had been protesting against the use of loudspeakers at a mosque to broadcast calls to prayers and recitals near her home in Tanjung Balai.
The situation escalated after provocations were circulated on social media.
Reports said at least five Buddhist houses of worship were damaged and burned down by the angry mob. No casualties were reported.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to act firmly in the aftermath of the mob attacks, calling on the top cop to "make sure the incident doesn't happen again, anywhere."
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