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usinesspeople of Chinese descent in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, have acknowledged the social and economic gap in the community has worsened public hatred and helped fuel the recent riot that saw 12 temples looted and burned down.

Leo Lopulisa, a fisheries businessman, also known as Congwi, said the economic gap between those of Chinese descent and the indigenous people in Tanjung Balai was apparent due to the city’s small population.

He said those of Chinese descent in Tanjung Balai accounted for about 10 percent of the city’s population of over 180,900. Of that figure, some 3 percent are categorized as very rich. The rest are rich and living well economically.

Not all families of Chinese descent in the city are rich. However, compared to the livelihoods of indigenous families, the former are still economically better off and more well-established.

The economic gap, Congwi said, was normal and could prevail anywhere. However, some Chinese businesspeople in the city could not handle the gap well and that created hatred among some people.

“As I see it, the problem is there, especially among the elite, the very rich of Chinese descent,” Congwi said.

The wealthy elites do not mingle with local people and tend to keep their distance and behave in an arrogant manner, Congwi claimed.

“The result is the recent riot,” he argued to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The riot could have been settled relatively quickly had there been no provocation on social media. Unfortunately, people were provoked and became emotional after reading on social media that people of Chinese descent in the city had banned mosques from voicing the adzan (call to prayer).

In truth, a woman of Chinese descent named Meliana was disturbed by the loud voice of the adzan because her house was near a mosque.

“Meliana never tried to ban the adzan but she was disturbed by it. This issue was used to provoke people on social media, as if a Chinese person was banning adzan in Tanjung Balai,” Congwi said.

He added that Meliana’s family was not that popular in Tanjung Balai because they had only been living in the city for eight years. The family runs a salted fish business.

Congwi expressed regret over Meliana’s careless act and at the same time condemned the anarchy of the mob that burned down Buddhist temples. He said the case had tarnished the interfaith harmony in Indonesia and had created a negative image about security in the country.

Zunaida, a local, said she had been working for an employer of Chinese descent for 14 years. She said most Tanjung Balai people worked as fishermen with employers of Chinese descent as their bosses.

“The economy here is in the hands of Chinese people. They are the employers and we are the workers,” said Zunaida, a mother of six who finds it difficult to support her family with a monthly wage of Rp 1.5 million (US$116).

Meanwhile, the local police are still investigating the riot. So far, 18 people have been named suspects in the case. All are from Tanjung Balai.

North Sumatra Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rina Sari Ginting said that of the 18 suspects, 10 had burned down the temples and eight others engaged in looting. Most of the suspects are underage.

“Many of them are underage but we detained them,” Rina said, adding that an examination revealed that four suspects had consumed drugs.

Regarding Meliana, who complained about the adzan, Rina said she was being questioned as a witness. Rina added that Meliana had also been reported for debasing religion.

“All will be processed according to law,” Rina said.