Elections body probes attack on Golkar supporters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) will soon
\nsummon executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party in relation to last week's
\nincident in which Golkar supporters and executives were pelted
\nwith stones.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Yogyakarta, commission member Adi Andojo said the
\ncommission was to summon both parties for clarification of the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Rather than denying that those involved in the attack were
\nmembers of PDI Perjuangan, the party, he said, \"should deliver
\nevidence that their supporters were not involved.\"<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, commission chairman Rudini said he would ask the
\nSupreme Court whether the commission had full authorization to
\ndeliver sanctions to parties that failed to check their
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
The sanctions, over which the commission must consult with the
\nSupervisory Election Committee, are in the code of conduct for
\ncampaigns issued by the commission, but Rudini said party
\nfunctions that lead to clashes well before the campaign period
\nraised the \"moral responsibility\" of the commission to act to
\nprevent further clashes.<\/p>\n
Campaigns are slated for May 19 to June 4.<\/p>\n
\"Morally KPU (the commission) has a responsibility to take
\ncare of any problems because we are comprised of representatives
\nof all 48 parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I have sent letters to urge all political parties not to
\n'steal' the start by performing various early campaigns such as
\ncadre gatherings, party birthday meetings or any other form of
\nrallies... as all of these are prone to instigate unrest.\"<\/p>\n
Several parties have conducted functions with huge crowds,
\nraising fears of clashes at the function site or along roads. One
\nperson died in Yogyakarta in one such clash.<\/p>\n
Also in Jakarta, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and
\nMinister of Justice Muladi said if the people who pelted Golkar
\npersonnel with stones proved to be supporters of PDI Perjuangan,
\nthe party should be held responsible.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan leaders must take responsibility and not just
\ntry to find an excuse,\" Syarwan said after attending a
\nministerial meeting to discuss the incident.<\/p>\n
The meeting was headed by Coordinator Minister for Political
\nand Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung.<\/p>\n
Adnan Buyung Nasution, a KPU member, said that Megawati's
\nsupporters were still upset over the tragedy and they believed
\nGolkar was not an innocent party in the incident.<\/p>\n
Last week, the car of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung was also
\npelted in Purbalingga, Central Java, when the party held a mass
\ngathering there. Several supporters were also harassed.<\/p>\n
Akbar blasted security personnel for doing nothing to stop the
\nviolence. Police said they had named four suspects, while the
\ndeputy of the local chapter of PDI Perjuangan, Bambang Gumono,
\nresigned out of shame.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile two separate clashes involving the National
\nAwakening Party, the United Development Party and the National
\nMandate Party erupted in Pekalongan and Klaten, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Six were injured in Pekalongan and another eight were hurt in
\nKlaten.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, two rival groups of PDI Perjuangan were involved
\nin a clash. A group of 30 people headed by former party
\nchairwoman Aritonang allegedly ambushed the conference of the
\nSurabaya PDI Perjuangan branch and injured at least one of their
\nopponents.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the East Java chapter, Sutjipto, described
\nAritonang's supporters as an irresponsible group who wanted to
\nfoil the conference. Meanwhile, hundreds of the party supporters
\ntook to the streets and removed Golkar flags from the main
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta political scholar J. Kristiadi said violence
\ncould continue given the use of \"primordial symbols\" and reliance
\non popular people by political parties. This condition is
\nworsened by the incapability of the security personnel, he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chairman of the Armed Forces Veterans
\nAssociation (Pepabri) Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno, a former
\nexecutive of Golkar, was officially accepted as a member of the
\nJustice and Unity Party (PKP) on Monday. (har\/44\/edt\/45\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elections-body-probes-attack-on-golkar-supporters-1447893297",
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