Authorities in East Java brace for unrest<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): East Java authorities have stepped up
\nprecaution measures in anticipation of possible unrest resulting
\nfrom the heightened tension between members of political elite in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Governor Imam Utomo called a crisis meeting with Brawijaya
\nMilitary commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, provincial police
\nchief Insp. Gen. Sutanto and provincial legislative council
\nspeaker Bisjri Abdul Djalil on Saturday due to the worsening
\npolitical climate.<\/p>\n
\"We agreed to call on all local politicians to calm their
\nsupporters and avoid provocative moves despite the political
\ndispute in Jakarta. Never let East Java become another
\nbattlefield of political elite,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
East Java is the stronghold of President Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nwho is facing an imminent impeachment process despite his last-
\nditch offer for a compromise with his contenders.<\/p>\n
A series of violence, albeit minor, have occurred in the
\nprovince, marking the run-up to the House of Representatives
\nplenary session on Wednesday that almost certain to result in a
\ncall for a People's Consultative Assembly special session to
\nimpeach the President.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Sidoarjo branch of National Mandate Party (PAN)
\nAgus Salam was the latest to fall victim to the violence on
\nSaturday when a group of unidentified people tossed firecrackers
\ninto his house, causing serious damage to the building. No
\nfatality was reported as Agus and his family were going out when
\nthe raid took place.<\/p>\n
The attack came just a day after provincial police chief
\nSutanto declared a top alert level across East Java.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people attacked the house of head of PAN's Situbondo
\nbranch on Wednesday and ransacked and burned more houses
\nbelonging to the party's activists in the neighboring town of
\nBondowoso a week before.<\/p>\n
Sutanto said on Saturday the intelligence police have found in
\nSitubondo and Besuki pamphlets carrying a writing of threat
\ndirected at politicians from PAN, Golkar Party, Crescent Star
\nParty and United Development Party. The parties, along with
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, are united in calling
\nfor an impeachment of the President.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever the reason behind the terror, we will take strict
\nmeasures against those who wish to perpetrate violence,\" Sutanto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said a total of 15,000 police, military personnel and
\npolitical party security guards had been deployed to riot-prone
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Sutanto met with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nMuslim clerics led by their chairman Hasyim Muzadi to discuss the
\ncurrent security crisis.<\/p>\n
Hasyim appealed to security authorities to look for the roots
\nof the tension in East Java.<\/p>\n
\"People in the grassroots are basically not aggressive-minded.
\nThey are prone to venting their anger in response to or in
\nretaliation of moves by their political rivals. We have to
\ndispose of the sources of their anger,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman supporters have also threatened to establish an
\nindependent country in East Java if the President, who once
\nchaired NU, is impeached. But Governor Imam lashed out at the
\nmove, saying it was a waste of energy and lacked both legal and
\nlogical grounds.<\/p>\n
Despite the call for calm, some 10,000 former members of death
\nsquad have reportedly reunited and planned a return to Jakarta
\nthis week to defend the embattled President.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of Pagar Nusa pencak silat martial law school
\nFathurrozi confirmed the move and said the death squad would come
\nfrom Jember, Banyuwangi, Probolinggo and Pasuruan.<\/p>\n
\"Although we have already been disbanded, we are still loyal
\nto our leaders,\" Fathurrozi said.<\/p>\n
The death squad was dismissed just in time before the House
\nmembers convened in Jakarta to issue the second motion of censure
\nagainst the President late in April.<\/p>\n
Terror<\/p>\n
Despite of the higher security alert, a stronghold of
\nAbdurrahman, terror on local political leaders flared up again in
\nseveral areas in the province over the weekend.<\/p>\n
In the early hours of Sunday, local chairman of the
\nMuhammdiyah Gresik chapter Ismail was stopped by an unknown group
\nof people when he was riding his motorcycle.<\/p>\n
The people took his motorbike but did not hurt Ismail. The
\nmotorcycle was burned. Ismail said he could not identify the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Separately in Bondowoso an unidentified group pelted
\nfirecrackers to five houses belonging to local PAN executives.
\nThe attacks were also done in the early hours of Sunday.<\/p>\n
Previously on Saturday, firecrackers were thrown on the
\nresidence of Agus Salam, the deputy chairman of PAN's Sidoarjo
\nchapter.<\/p>\n
The incident, at around 3:00 a.m., caused damages to the front
\nglass window of the house and shattered the car's side window.<\/p>\n
Police are reportedly investigating the incidents.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Banyuwangi, four name plates of the Nahdlatul
\nUlama offices in Tapanrejo, Blambangan and in Kedungrejo -- all
\nin Muncar district -- were destroyed by unknown people. The
\naction was believed to be taken at around 1:00 a.m.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Blambangan and Kedungrejo, houses belonging to
\nPAN and Golkar Party supporters were given \"X\" red markings.<\/p>\n
Banyuwangi Police chief Adj. Comr. Anton Priyadi confirmed the
\nrecent violence and terror in the area and said that additional
\npersonnel were being brought in.<\/p>\n
\"Frankly speaking, this terror act is causing a headache for
\npolice as so far we don't have any witnesses who saw what
\nhappened. We find it difficult to filter the possible
\nperpetrators. Besides, we're puzzeled why NU's names plates were
\ndamaged in the organization's stronghold,\" he told reporters on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
Anton said he has asked 200 police personnel from Bali to
\nsafeguard the Ketapang port which connects East Java with Bali in
\nanticipation of mass protests.<\/p>\n
The angry supporters of President Abdurrahman blocked the port
\nto vent their disappointment when the House of Representative
\nfirst censured Abdurrahman in February.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, hundreds of Abdurrahman's supporters also held a
\nmassive prayers in three different districts of Muncar, Genteng
\nand Glenmore. (nur)<\/p>",
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