ACEHNESE MUSLIM FIGURE DEPLORES WEDNESDAY'S DEADLY RIOT

Banda Aceh, Aceh, April 15 (ANTARA) - Wednesday's deadly and violent clashes between public order security personnel and the local people who defended a tomb of a respected Muslim figure in North Jakarta has sparked a public concern.

Head of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)-Aceh provincial chapter, Tgk.Faisal Ali joined the public concern here Thursday. He deplored the clash that claimed at least two lives and injuring more than a hundred people.

The street war between public order security personnel and local residents was triggered by the authorities' order to destroy illegal buildings inside the compound of the tomb of Habib Hasan bin Muhammad Al Hadad, popularly known as "Mbah Priok".

"We deplore the rioting. It would not happen if the Jakarta provincial government focuses on seeking the best solution to the problem by social and peaceful means, not violence and power," Ali said.

The power approach that hundreds of powerful public order security personnel used in facing the tomb defenders had caused the deadly physical violence, he said.

"If the social language is used through respected ulemas and community leaders, I believe that such Wednesday's clash can be avoided," Ali said.

The government could not ruin a Muslim figure's tomb or a site that locals had frequently used for Islamic teachings because the acts of the government would trigger public anger, he said.

Taking the Wednesday's incident as a lesson, Ali urged the government to pay serious attention to its people's interests and prioritize non-violent approaches in dealing with sensitive problems.

The quality of recruitment process of the public order security personnel in the country need also be reassessed, he said.

In response to Wednesday's incident, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had ordered stoppage of operations or renovation efforts at the compound of the tomb in the Koja area, North Jakarta.

"I ask for a status-quo and call for talks to be done again to settle the problem with all stakeholders," he said in Jakarta on the day the incident occurred.

He said the clash that happened in Tanjung Priok should and could have been avoided if security personnel would study the social conditions in the field.

President Yudhoyono also ordered a thorough investigation and find the real cause of the mass violence.