'Yogyakarta Is Not A Model Of Violence,' Sri Sultan Gives A Message To Immigrants After The Babarsari Riots

Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X (ANTARA)

YOGYAKARTA - Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X asked the police to take firm action against all perpetrators involved in the riot in the Babarsari area, Depok District, Sleman Regency.

"Just take action for those who violate the crime. Enforce the law because there has been a violation," said the Sultan at the Kepatihan Complex, Yogyakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, July 5.

He asked the police to resolve the matter firmly and fairly, without much consideration so that similar cases do not recur in the future.

"You don't have to have other considerations, you have violated the law (actions) because if you do that, others won't be playing games. We don't act until there are victims and so on. So we have to be fair to enforce the law, don't be picky," he said.

Sultan said that the commotion between groups of immigrants had actually occurred in the Babarsari area about four years ago. At that time, he tried to meet them and invite dialogue.

"Four years ago, there were often fights, I also visited them, I met them," said Ngarsa Dalem, the Sultan's greeting.

According to him, many residents from outside the area live in Babarsari, Sleman because there are a number of universities in that area. For the Sultan, acts of violence such as the one in Babarsari on Monday, July 4, did not reflect the culture of the people in Yogyakarta.

Therefore, the King of the Yogyakarta Palace hopes that the groups of residents from outside the area who live in Yogyakarta can adjust their attitudes to the culture of the local community.

The Sultan emphasized that any misunderstanding could actually be resolved by dialogue, not by physical violence.

"Yogyakarta is not a model of violence. We have to adjust to where he lives. We are a society that respects other people so that they can get along well. I hope they can do that," he said.

However, said the Sultan, any residents from outside the region who live in Yogyakarta have become part of its citizens so that to solve this problem there is no need to involve the respective regional heads.

"He lives in Yogyakarta, that means he is part of the people of Yogyakarta. I don't want to discriminate. But if you commit a crime that is not appropriate and it violates the law, enforce the law, that's all," he said.

Previously, a number of shop houses and motorbikes were damaged due to riots between groups in the Babarsari area, Depok District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) on Monday (4/7).

The DIY Police suspect that the riot was the aftermath of a commotion between groups that occurred at a karaoke place in Babarsari.